Accelerated desensitization of nicotinic receptor channels and its dependence on extracellular calcium in isolated skeletal muscles of streptozotocin-diabetic mice

Long-term wheel-running prevents reduction of grip strength in type 2 diabetic rats

Diabetic skeletal muscles show reduced contractile force and increased fatigability. Hands are a target for several diabetes-induced complications. Therefore, reduced handgrip strength often occurs as a consequence of diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine whether long-term exercise can prevent reduction of grip strength in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model OLETF rats, and to explore the mechanisms underlying diabetes-induced grip strength reduction. Ten 5-week-old OLETF rats were used as experimental animals, and five non-diabetic LETO rats as controls of OLETF rats. Half OLETF rats performed daily voluntary wheel-running for 17 months (OLETF + EXE), and the rest of OLETF and LETO rats were sedentary. Grip strength was higher in OLETF + EXE and LETO groups than in OLETF group. OLETF group with hyperglycemia showed an increase in HbA1c, serum TNF-α, and muscle SERCA activity, but a decrease in circulating insulin. Each fiber area, total fiber area, and % total fiber area in type IIb fibers of extensor digitorum longus muscles were larger in OLETF + EXE and LETO groups than in OLETF group. There was a positive correlation between grip strength and the above three parameters concerning type IIb fiber area. Therefore, type IIb fiber atrophy may be the major direct cause of grip strength reduction in OLETF group, although there seems multiple etiological mechanisms. Long-term wheel-running may have blocked the diabetes-induced reduction of grip strength by preventing type IIb fiber atrophy. Regular exercise may be a potent modality for preventing not only the progression of diabetes but muscle dysfunction in T2DM patients.

Morpholinium hydrogen sulfate (MHS) ionic liquid as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of bio-active multi-substituted imidazoles (MSI) under solvent-free conditions

Morpholinium hydrogen sulfate as an ionic liquid was employed as a catalyst for the synthesis of a biologically active series of multi-substituted imidazoles by a four-component reaction involving the combination of benzil with different aromatic aldehydes, ammonium acetate, and 1-amino-2-propanol under solvent-free conditions. The key advantages of this method are shorter reaction times, very high yield, and ease of processing. Furthermore, the resulting products can be purified by a non-chromatographic method and the ionic liquid catalyst is reusable. All of these novel compounds have been fully characterized from spectral data. The X-ray crystal structures of two representative molecules are also detailed.

Single-fiber electromyography of facial and limb muscles in diabetic patients with or without neuropathy

PURPOSE

In diabetic patients, single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) is often abnormal in the limb muscles and is considered unreliable in diagnosis of synaptic disorders. We aimed to compare SFEMG abnormalities of frontalis muscle (FM) and extensor digitorum communis muscle in diabetic patients with neuropathy and without neuropathy.

METHODS

Stimulation SFEMG of FM and extensor digitorum communis muscle was performed in matched groups of 30 diabetic patients with neuropathy and 20 diabetic patients without neuropathy.

RESULTS

Single-fiber electromyography in the FM was abnormal in four diabetic patients with neuropathy and in one diabetic patient without neuropathy. Changes were rather mild. Extensor digitorum communis abnormalities were significantly more frequent-in 20 diabetic patients with neuropathy and in 7 diabetic patients without neuropathy (P < 0.001). We never observed a patient with abnormal FM but normal extensor digitorum communis muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

In diabetes, FM exhibits rare and quite mild SFEMG changes. This muscle may be suitable for SFEMG in diabetic patients with clinical suspicion for synaptic disorder.

Synthesis, X-ray Structure, and Pharmacological Activity of Some 6,6-Disubstituted Chromeno[4,3-b]- and Chromeno- [3,4-c]-quinolines

Some chromeno[4,3-b]quinolines 4a-i were obtained from beta-chloro carboxyaldehydes 3a-c with different aniline derivatives namely, aniline, 4-fluoroaniline, and 2-aminophenol. Surprisingly, 3a-c reacted with 2-aminothiophenol and afforded the chromeno[3,4-c]quinoline derivatives 5a-c. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 4e and 5b provided good support for the established structure. Compounds 4b and 5b showed significant anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic score activities compared to that of indomethacin.

Synthesis of 5-Phenyl-1-(3-pyridyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylic Acid Derivatives of Potential Anti-inflammatory Activity

A series of 5-phenyl-1-(3-pyridyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives 4-10 were synthesized by rearrangement of 4-(3-pyridyl)-hydrazono-2-phenyl-2-oxazolin-5-one 3 in the presence of different nucleophiles to afford derivatives 4, 7, and 8, while hydroxamic acid derivative 6 was prepared from reaction of methyl ester 4 with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Semicarbazide 9 and thiosemicarbazide 10, derivatives of the 5-phenyl-1-(3-pyridyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylic acid, were synthesized via hydrazide 8 with potassium cyanate and appropriate isothiocyanate, respectively. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses, IR, (1)H-NMR, and mass spectra. The results of the anti-inflammatory activity of the synthesized derivatives showed that most of the tested compounds 4-10 showed significant inhibition against carrageenan-induced rat paw edema in albino rats. Derivatives 4 and 8 showed promising results and were found to be equipotent or more potent than Indomethacin and Celecoxib as reference drugs at two dose levels, 5 and 10 mg/kg, and they have no ulcerogenic activity.

Functional alteration of inhibitory influences on spinal motor output in painful diabetic neuropathy in rats

Diabetes is frequently accompanied by painful polyneuropathies that are mediated by enhanced neuronal excitability in the spinal cord, partly because of decrease in spinal intrinsic inhibitory influences. Changes in spinal excitatory-inhibitory balance may alter spinal segmental motor output. In the study presented here, the mono- and disynaptic (the fastest polysynaptic) reflexes (MSR and DSR, respectively) were recorded from L5 ventral roots in response to stimulation of the ipsilateral L5 dorsal root in spinalized streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with a reduced withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimuli. The diabetic rats generally exhibited larger spinal reflex amplitudes, the DSR being influenced in particular. We addressed whether recurrent and presynaptic inhibition of the spinal reflexes were altered in STZ-treated animals. The recurrent inhibition of the MSR and DSR elicited by preceding antidromic conditioning stimulation delivered to the recorded L5 ventral root was markedly suppressed in diabetic rats. By contrast, the presynaptic inhibition of the MSR and DSR elicited by preceding conditioning stimulation to the ipsilateral L4 dorsal root was not impaired. Thus, in diabetic painful neuropathy, reduced spinal intrinsic inhibition in the ventral horn contributes to an enhanced spinal segmental motor output.

Mechanisms of force loss in diabetic mouse skeletal muscle

Pathologic changes to alpha-motoneurons may contribute to decreases in skeletal muscle strength in diabetes. The present study examines this possibility. Female ICR mice (approximately 25 g) were given a single injection of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg). After 2, 4, and 8 weeks of diabetes, we measured maximum isometric tetanic torque of the fast-twitch anterior crural muscles at the ankle when stimulated through the common peroneal nerve, and maximal isometric tetanic force in the directly stimulated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. After 4 weeks, the relative loss of torque via nerve stimulation (-43%) was greater (P = 0.02) than the force loss in the directly stimulated muscle (-24%), indicating a functional neural deficit. However, the percent changes in strength in these two methods of stimulation were not different (P = 0.41) in the 8-week diabetic animals, indicating that functional impairment resided in the muscle. This suggests an early distal motoneuron or neuromuscular junction deficit that improved as the intrinsic muscle deficit worsened. Preliminary evidence also suggests excitation-contraction uncoupling may contribute to the loss of strength in fast-twitch muscles.

Overexpression of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase improves myocardial contractility in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized by reduced cardiac contractility due to direct changes in heart muscle function independent of vascular disease. An important contributor to contractile dysfunction in the diabetic state is an impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function, leading to disturbed intracellular calcium handling. We investigated whether overexpression of the SR calcium pump (SERCA2a) in transgenic mice could reduce the impact of diabetes on the development of cardiomyopathy. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (200 mg/kg), and left ventricular (LV) function was analyzed in isolated hearts 3 weeks later. In diabetic hearts systolic LV pressure was decreased by 15% and maximum speed of relaxation (-dP/dt) by 34%. Functional changes were also assessed in isolated papillary muscles. Active force was reduced by 61% and maximum speed of relaxation by 65% in the diabetic state. The contractile impairment was accompanied by a 30% decrease in SERCA2a protein in diabetic mice. We investigated whether increased SERCA2a expression in transgenic SERCA2a-overexpressing mice could compensate for the diabetes-induced decrease in cardiac function. Under normal conditions, SERCA2a overexpressors show improved contractile performance relative to wild-type (WT) mice (-dP/dt: 3,169 vs. 2,559 mmHg/s, respectively). Measurement of LV function in hearts from diabetic SERCA2a mice revealed systolic and diastolic functions that were similar to WT control mice and markedly improved relative to diabetic WT mice (-dP/dt: 2,534 vs. 1,690 mmHg/s in diabetic SERCA2a vs. diabetic WT mice, respectively). Similarly, the contractile behavior of isolated papillary muscles from diabetic SERCA2a mice was not different from that of control mice. SERCA2a protein expression was higher (60%) in diabetic SERCA2a mice than WT diabetic mice. These results indicate that overexpression of SERCA2a can protect diabetic hearts from severe contractile dysfunction, presumably by improving the calcium sequestration of the SR.

Possible involvement of protein kinase C in the attenuation of the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in diabetic mice

To investigate the role of protein kinase C in the attenuation of the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in diabetic mice, we examined the effects of protein kinase C activator or inhibitor on the i.c.v. morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in mice. This reaction was less in diabetic mice than in normal mice. Intracerebroventricular pretreatment with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (50 pmol), a potent protein kinase C activator, attenuated the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in normal mice, but not in diabetic mice. I.c.v. pretreatment with calphostin C (10 pmol), a selective protein kinase C inhibitor, enhanced the reaction in diabetic mice, but not in normal mice. The dose-response curve for the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in normal mice, but not in diabetic mice, was shifted to the right by i.c.v. pretreatment with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (50 pmol). Furthermore, i.c.v. pretreatment with calphostin C (3 pmol) shifted the dose-response curve to the left in diabetic mice, but not in normal mice. These results indicate that activation of protein kinase C reduces the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in normal mice. Also, the attenuation of the morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in diabetic mice may be due in part to increased protein kinase C activity.

The role of axonal ion conductances in diabetic neuropathy: a review

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication in diabetes mellitus. Diabetic neuropathy is accompanied by alterations in axonal excitability, which can lead to either "positive" (paresthesia, dysesthesia, pain) and/or "negative" (hypesthesia, anesthesia) symptoms. The mechanisms underlying these alterations in axonal excitability are not well understood. Clinical tests reveal reduced nerve conduction velocity and axonal loss, but fail to explain nerve excitability. Many different factors have been suggested in relation to the pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy. There are probably as many factors as there are different clinical pictures in diabetic neuropathy. Nevertheless, it seems that hyperglycemic hypoxia is mainly responsible for the electrophysiological changes seen in damaged diabetic nerves. This article summarizes experimental data indicating that a dysfunction of ion conductances, especially voltage-gated ion channels, could contribute to abnormalities in the generation and/or conduction of action potentials in diabetic neuropathy.

Calcium-dependent desensitizing function of the postsynaptic neuronal-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction

Several subunits that commonly have been regarded as neuronal-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes, have been found in the postjunctional endplate membrane of adult skeletal muscle fibres. The postsynaptic function of these neuronal-type nAChR subtypes at the neuromuscular junction has been investigated by using aequorin luminescence and fluorescence confocal imaging. A biphasic elevation of intracellular Ca2+ is elicited by prolonged nicotinic action at the mouse muscle endplates. The fast and slow Ca2+ components are operated by a postsynaptic muscle- and colocalized neuronal-type nAChR, respectively. Neuromuscular functions may be regulated by a dual nAChR system to maintain the normal postsynaptic excitability. Certain neuronal-type nAChR may be endowed with the same functional role in the central nervous system also.

Diabetic state-induced rapid inactivation of noncontractile Ca2+ mobilization operated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in mouse diaphragm muscle

1. Diabetic modifications of nicotinic receptor-operated noncontractile Ca2- mobilization observed in the presence of anticholinesterase were investigated by measuring Ca(2+)-aequorin luminescence in diaphragm muscles of mice with diabetes induced by injections of streptozotocin (150 mg kg-1, bolus i.v.) and alloxan (85 mg kg-1, bolus i.v.). 2. The diabetic state accelerated the decline of noncontractile Ca2+ transients without affecting their peak amplitude. Insulin treatment reversed this alteration. 3. The increase in contractile Ca2+ transients by cholinesterase inhibition was attenuated 0.6 fold and became resistant to changes in [Ca2+]o in the diabetic state. 4. Changes in extracellular pH from 7.6 to 5.6 depressed the peak amplitude of noncontractile Ca2+ transients without affecting their duration, and enhanced the peak amplitude of contractile Ca2+ transients. 5. These results suggest that the inactivation process of noncontractile Ca2+ mobilization is promoted in diabetic muscles, presumably by desensitization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.