Glutamic acid and glutamine metabolism in cerebral cortex after seizures induced by methionine sulphoximine

Glycogen as a Putative Target for Diagnosis and Therapy in Brain Pathologies

Brain glycogen, a glucose polymer, is now considered as a functional energy store to the brain. Indeed, when neurons outpace their own possibilities to provide themselves with energy, astrocytic metabolism is in charge of feeding neurons, since brain glycogen synthesis is mainly due to astrocyte. Therefore, malfunctions or perturbations of astrocytic glycogen content, synthesis, or mobilization may be involved in processes of brain pathologies. This is the case, for example, in epilepsies and gliomas, two different situations in which, brain needs high level of energy during acute or chronic conditions. The purpose of the present paper is to demonstrate how brain glycogen might be relevant in these two pathologies and to pinpoint the possibilities of considering glycogen as a tool for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in brain pathologies.

Glutamine as a mediator of ammonia neurotoxicity: A critical appraisal

Ammonia is a major neurotoxin implicated in hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Here we discuss evidence that many aspects of ammonia toxicity in HE-affected brain are mediated by glutamine (Gln), synthesized in excess from ammonia and glutamate by glutamine synthetase (GS), an astrocytic enzyme. The degree to which Gln is increased in brains of patients with HE was found to positively correlate with the grade of HE. In animals with HE, a GS inhibitor, methionine sulfoximine (MSO), reversed a spectrum of manifestations of ammonia toxicity, including brain edema and increased intracranial pressure, even though MSO itself increased brain ammonia levels. MSO inhibited, while incubation with Gln reproduced the oxidative stress and cell swelling observed in ammonia-exposed cultured astrocytes. Recent studies have shown that astrocytes swell subsequent to Gln transport into mitochondria and its degradation back to ammonia, which then generates reactive oxygen species and the mitochondrial permeability transition. This sequence of events led to the formulation of the "Trojan Horse" hypothesis. Further verification of the role of Gln in the pathogenesis of HE will have to account for: (1) modification of the effects of Gln by interaction of astrocytes with other CNS cells; and (2) direct effects of Gln on these cells. Recent studies have demonstrated a "Trojan Horse"-like effect of Gln in microglia, as well as an interference by Gln with the activation of the NMDA/NO/cGMP pathway by ammonia as measured in whole brain, a process that likely also involves neurons.

Epilepsy, regulation of brain energy metabolism and neurotransmission

Seizures are the result of a sudden and temporary synchronization of neuronal activity, the reason for which is not clearly understood. Astrocytes participate in the control of neurotransmitter storage and neurotransmission efficacy. They provide fuel to neurons, which need a high level of energy to sustain normal and pathological neuronal activities, such as during epilepsy. Various genetic or induced animal models have been developed and used to study epileptogenic mechanisms. Methionine sulfoximine induces both seizures and the accumulation of brain glycogen, which might be considered as a putative energy store to neurons in various animals. Animals subjected to methionine sulfoximine develop seizures similar to the most striking form of human epilepsy, with a long pre-convulsive period of several hours, a long convulsive period during up to 48 hours and a post convulsive period during which they recover normal behavior. The accumulation of brain glycogen has been demonstrated in both the cortex and cerebellum as early as the pre-convulsive period, indicating that this accumulation is not a consequence of seizures. The accumulation results from an activation of gluconeogenesis specifically localized to astrocytes, both in vivo and in vitro. Both seizures and brain glycogen accumulation vary when using different inbred strains of mice. C57BL/6J is the most "resistant" strain to methionine sulfoximine, while CBA/J is the most "sensitive" one. The present review describes the data obtained on methionine sulfoximine dependent seizures and brain glycogen in the light of neurotransmission, highlighting the relevance of brain glycogen content in epilepsies.

In vivo and in vitro glycogenic effects of methionine sulfoximine are different in two inbred strains of mice

We investigated the relationship between brain glycogen anabolism and methionine sulfoximine (MSO)-induced seizures in two inbred mouse strains that presented differential susceptibility to the convulsant. CBA/J was considered a MSO-high-reactive strain and C57BL/6J a MSO-low-reactive strain. Accordingly, the dose of MSO needed to induce seizures in CBA/J mice is lower than that in C57BL/6J mice, and CBA/J mice which had seizures, died during the first convulsion. In addition, the time--course of the MSO effect is faster in CBA/J mice than that in C57BL/6J mice. Analyses were performed in C57BL/6J and CBA/J mice after administration of 75 (subconvulsive dose) and 40 mg/kg of MSO (subconvulsive dose, not lethal dose), respectively. In the preconvulsive period, MSO induced an increase in the brain glycogen content of C57BL/6J mice only. Twenty-four hours after MSO administration, the brain glycogen content increased in both strains. The activity and expression of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, the last key enzyme of the gluconeogenic pathway, were increased in MSO-treated C57BL/6J mice as compared to control mice, at all experimental time points, whereas they were increased in CBA/J mice only 24 h after MSO administration. These latter results correspond to CBA/J mice that did not have seizures. Interestingly, the differences observed in vivo were consistent with results in primary cultured astrocytes from the two strains. This data suggests that the metabolism impairment, which was not a consequence of seizures, could be related to the difference in seizure susceptibility between the two strains, depending on their genetic background.

Development of an immobilized brain glutamine synthetase liquid chromatographic stationary phase for on-line biochemical studies

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a key role in the regulation of glutamate availability to neurons. In the present study glutamine synthetase was immobilized on a silica-based immobilized artificial membrane liquid chromatographic stationary phase (IAM-SP) to create the GS-IAM. The stability of GS was improved by immobilization, but the enzyme's affinity for the substrates L-glutamate and D-glutamate was significantly decreased. In contrast, immobilization significantly increased GS sensitivity to inhibition by methionine sulfoximine. The GS-IAM was packed into a chromatography column to create an immobilized enzyme reactor (GS-IMER). On-line experiments with the GS-IMER demonstrated that the immobilized enzyme was comparable to the non-immobilized enzyme with regards to retention of activity and selectivity toward substrates and inhibitors and was reusable for several weeks.

Effects of anti-epileptic drugs on glutamine synthetase activity in mouse brain

1. Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a key enzyme in the regulation of glutamate neurotransmission in the central nervous system. It is responsible for the conversion of glutamate to glutamine, and for the detoxification of ammonia. 2. We have investigated the effects of single and repeated intraperitoneal administration of a range of established and new anti-epileptic drugs on GS activity in mouse brain. 3. Four hours after the final dose, animals were sacrificed and the brains removed for analysis of GS activity. 4. Both single and repeated doses of phenytoin and carbamazepine were found to reduce enzyme activity (P<0.05). 5. Single doses of phenobarbitone, felbamate and topiramate were without effect, however repeated administration of these drugs dose-dependently reduced GS activity (P<0.05). 6. Single and repeated doses of sodium valproate, vigabatrin, lamotrigine, gabapentin, tiagabine, levetiracetam and desglycinyl-remacemide were found to have no effect on GS activity. 7. The reduction in enzyme activity demonstrated is unlikely to be related to the anti-epileptic actions of these drugs, but may contribute to their toxicity.

The metabolism of glutamate and aspartate in rat cerebral cortical slices

The fate of [ 14 C]glutamate and [ 14 C]aspartate in rat cerebral cortical slices was followed quantitatively by means of the previously described automatic scanning technique of paper radio-chromatograms, in the presence and absence of non-radiocative glucose, and in the case of [ 14 C]glutamate, also of the following non-radioactive tricarboxylic cycle acids: pyruvate, citrate, α-oxoglutarate, malate, oxalo-acetate and succinate. Both amino-acids were readily oxidized to CO 2 , glutamate increasing, aspartate not affecting the rate of endogenous oxygen uptake of the tissue. In addition the following metabolites accumulated: ( a ) From glutamate: aspartate, glutamine and γ -aminobutyrate, in order of decreasmg amounts. ( b ) From aspartate: glutamate, malate and citrate, in order of decreasmg amounts, with traces of glutamine, γ aminobutyrate and lactate. The presence of non-radioactive glucose as co-substrate caused the following effects. 1. On glutamate-.The total production of 14 CO 2 aswell as the oxygen uptake increased. This indicated that glucose oxidation had not replaced glutamate oxidation, but actually caused its stimulation. The conversion into glutamine was increased by a factor of 3, an effect similar to that caused by K + ions. The conversion into aspartate was decreased by a factor of 4. The accumulation of intracellular glutamate was much enhanced. 2. On aspartate: both 14 CO 2 production and oxygen uptake were stimulated, indicating that, as in the case of glutamate, glucose oxidation not only had not replaced the oxidation of amino-acid, but stimulated it. The production of glutamate, glutamine, γ -aminobutyrate and lactate was considerably increased while that of malate and citrate was unaffected. The following effects on glutamate metabolism were noted in the presence of non-radioactive tricarboxylic cycle acids: None of the acids affected 14 CO 2 production except α-oxoglutarate which caused a decrease of over half. This decrease was shown to be due to a dilution of [ 14 C]glutamate through equilibration with non-radioactive α-oxoglutarate; the latter acquired about half of the radioactivity of the [ 14 C]glutarnate added during the incubation. Pyruvate, like glucose, decreased the conversion to aspartate and increased glutamine formation, the latter, however, to a much lower degree than glucose. It also enhanced the accumulation of intracellular glutamate. Citrate, succinate, malate and oxaloacetate, particularly the latter two co-substrates, repressed the formation of [ 14 C]glutamine, but had no other effect on the pattern of distiibution of the metabolites formed from glutamate and on the permeability of this amino-acid into the cell.

Effect of ammonium chloride on energy metabolism of astrocytes and C6-glioma cells in vitro

Increased ammonia has been considered a key factor in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The high concentration of ammonia interferes with oxidative metabolism in the brain through an inhibitory effect on the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA). Inhibition of the TCA cycle may result in depletion of ATP. Due to the involvement of astrocytes in brain detoxification of ammonia, these cells are good candidates for studying ammonia's effect on energy stores in the brain. C6-glioma cells, which have altered glycolytic rates, may show greater sensitivity to the toxicity of ammonium chloride than astrocytes. To study the effect of ammonium chloride on energy storage of both astrocytes and C6-glioma, we observed the acute and chronic effects of NH4Cl (7.5 or 15 mM) on the metabolism of isolated astrocytes and C6-glioma cells. Primary astrocytes were isolated from the cerebral hemispheres of 1-2 day old Sprague-Dawley rats, and C6-glioma cells were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Following treatment of the cells with ammonia, glucose, lactate, glutamate, ATP, and PCr were assayed. Our data showed that at 15 min following treatment with NH4Cl, there were no significant differences in the concentration of metabolites measured in astrocytes. However, following 15 min of treatment with NH4Cl, the concentration of some metabolites, for example, ATP and lactate, changed significantly in C6-glioma cells. We have shown that 24 h of treatment was sufficient time to see significant biochemical changes but not morphological changes in either cell type. Simultaneous biochemical and morphological changes were observed 48 h following treatment in C6-glioma cells and at 9-10 days following treatment in primary astrocytes. In primary astrocytes at 24 h following treatment, glucose utilization increased. This high utilization of glucose was in accordance with the increase in lactate and glutamate production and the decrease in ATP and PCr formation. In C6-glioma cells the utilization of glucose increased but this high utilization of glucose was consistent with a significant decrease in the concentration of lactate, glutamate and ATP.

Methionine sulfoximine reduces cortical infarct size in rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion

The methionine analogue methionine sulfoximine was administered to 10 rats 24 hours before occlusion of the proximal left middle cerebral artery. Three days later the rats were decapitated and the brain infarct volumes were compared with those in 10 control rats that received saline before middle cerebral artery occlusion. The mean volume of the infarct in the cerebral cortex was reduced by 33% in the group treated with methionine sulfoximine (p less than 0.01). This protective effect may be mediated by a presynaptic mechanism; methionine sulfoximine profoundly inhibits brain glutamine synthetase, thereby interrupting the astrocyte-neuron glutamate shuttle and impairing neuronal glutamate release. Methionine sulfoximine also increases brain glycogen stores, and this increased energy reserve may benefit penumbral tissue during the peri-infarct period. Further study of the mechanisms by which methionine sulfoximine decreases infarct volume could lead to new therapeutic approaches for stroke.

Glycogen synthesis and immunocytochemical study of fructose-1,6-biphosphatase in methionine sulfoximine epileptogenic rodent brain

The effects of the convulsant methionine sulfoximine (MSO) on the glucose pathway have been investigated in mouse and rat brain. The key gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-biphosphatase (FBPase) (EC 3.1.3.11) was immunostained by rat anti-FBPase antibody. The rat cortex slices were very lightly stained, almost unstained in controls. After MSO injection, there was a marked staining only in astrocytes (perikarya, processes, and end feet). The activity of this enzyme also increased. MSO induced an increase of 63% in the stability at heating (47 degrees C) and of 36% in the stability at proteolysis (trypsin, 10 micrograms/ml) of FBPase. The convulsant had no effect on the concentrations of the metabolites related to the FBPase-phosphofructokinase step, i.e., fructose-1,6-biphosphate, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate, before, during, or after the convulsions. These results show that the cellular site of glucose pathway impairment induced by MSO in rodent brain is presumably the astroglial cells and that one mechanism of glycogenesis could be the reinforcement of the molecules of FBPase, which enhances gluconeogenesis. A hypothetical diagram of glucose metabolism under the effect of MSO has been proposed.

Brain methylation and epileptogenesis: the case of methionine sulfoximine

A brief review of the neurochemical effects of the convulsant agent L-methionine-dl-sulfoximine (MSO) on cerebral methylation reactions is presented. Our findings point to the involvement of a number of endogenous methyl acceptor molecules, including histamine, membrane phospholipids, and membrane proteins, in the mediation of the convulsant effect. Our findings also associate the inhibition of methylations by high levels of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine in brain with protection against MSO-induced seizures. We propose that MSO acts by eliciting the acceleration of a regulatory methylation-demethylation sequence at key molecular sites, including the benzodiazepine receptor complex, which creates an imbalance in this sequence's normal mediation of convulsant-anticonvulsant mechanisms.

alpha-Guanidinoglutaric acid in cobalt-induced epileptogenic cerebral cortex of cats

Guanidino compounds in the cobalt-induced epileptogenic cerebral cortex of cats were fluorometrically analysed by a JASCO G-520 guanidino compounds analyser, and an unknown high peak was observed in the chromatogram that was identical to the peak of authentic alpha-guanidinoglutaric acid. In another experiment, the substance was extracted from the cobalt focus tissue, converted into dimethylpyrimidyl derivative-butylester, and analysed by a GC/MS technique. The mass spectrum of the substance was identical to the dimethylpyrimidyl derivative of alpha-guanidinoglutaric acid butylester (M+ = 365).

The convulsant drugs 3-mercaptopropionate and methionine sulfoximine inhibit L-glutamate and L-aspartate binding to a hydrophobic protein fraction from rat cerebral cortex

The action of the convulsant drugs, methionine sulfoximine (MSO), 3-mercaptopropionate (3-MP), megimide (MG), and allylglycine on the binding of L-[14C]aspartate, L-[14C]glutamate and [14C]GABA to a hydrophobic protein fraction isolated from rat cerebral cortex was studied. Using the convulsant at 10(-4) M concentration and the radioactive ligands as 10(-6) M the binding of L-[14C]glutamate was inhibited 60% by 3-MP and 40% by MSO, while MG and allylglycine had no effect. The binding of L-[14C]aspartate was inhibited 55%, and 10--20% by 3-MP and MSO, respectively, while MG and allylglycine had not effect. None of the drugs mentioned, except for a minimal inhibition by MG, altered the binding of [14C]GABA. Neither MSO nor 3-MP affected the high-affinity sites for L-[14C]glutamate of L-[14C]aspartate, but they had a strong inhibitory action on the medium affinity site. These results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanism of action of these drugs on L-glutamate and L-aspartate receptors.

An ultrastructural study of methionine sulphoximine-induced glycogen accumulation in astrocytes of the mouse cerebral cortex

Glycogen distribution in the mouse cerebral cortex was examined with electron microscopy following treatment with the experimental convulsant, methionine sulphoximine (M.S.O.). Both at 24 and 48 h followed administration of M.S.O., accumulation of particulate glycogen was prominent in astrocytes throughout the cerebral cortex. In astrocyte cell bodies and in subpial, pericapillary and perineuronal astrocyte processes the glycogen often completely filled the cytoplasm, crowding the remaining organelles and inclusions. The present findings correlate well with biochemical studies of M.S.O. effects of glutamine synthetase activity and energy metabolism. It is suggested that the glycogen may be derived from glutamate which under normal conditions would be converted to glutamine.

Identification of L-methionine-S-sulfoximine as the convulsant isomer of methionine sulfoximine

The convulsant agent methionine sulfoximine inhibits brain glutamine synthetase irreversibly and the inhibitor becomes bound to the active site of the enzyme as methionine sulfoximine phosphate. Only one of the four isomers of methionine sulfoximine, L-methionine-S-sulfoximine, inhibits glutamine synthetase. In the present work, D-methionine-SR-sulfoximine, and highly purified preparations of L-methionine-S-sulfoximine and L-methionine-R-sulfoximine were tested in mice for convulsant activity; only L-methionine-S-sulfoximine produced convulsions. The finding that only one of the four optical isomers of methionine sulfoximine induces convulsions, and that only this same isomer inhibits glutamine synthetase, lends support to the conclusion that these two effects of methionine sulfoximine are closely connected.

Phosphorylation of methionine sulfoximine by glutamine synthetase

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