Influence of different antidepressant drugs on the effect of chronic variable stress on restraint-induced dopamine release in frontal cortex. (49/574)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an early chronic variable stress procedure (CVS) associated or not with repeated administration of various antidepressants on cortical restraint-induced dopamine (DA) release in vivo. Animals were subjected to the CVS schedule and one day after submitted to persistent administration with vehicle, desipramine (DMI, 10 mg/kg, i.p.), fluoxetine (FLU, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) or phenelzine (PHE; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and later on exposed to a 60-min restraint period. In addition, we also explored the effect of acute administration of these antidepressants on cortical DA overflow in response to restraint in CVS treated rats. A higher increase in cortical DA release in response to restraint was observed in CVS animals as compared with those without previous CVS. Persistent, but not acute, administration with DMI, FLU and PHE blocked the sensitized output induced by restraint following CVS exposure.  (+info)

Oxygen dependency of monoamine oxidase activity in the intact lung. (50/574)

Hydrogen peroxide generated by monoamine oxidase (MAO)-mediated deamination of biogenic amines has been implicated in cell signaling and oxidative injury. Because the pulmonary endothelium is a site of metabolism of monoamines present in the venous return, this brings into question a role for MAO in hyperoxic lung injury. The objective of this study was to evaluate the O(2) dependency of the MAO reaction in the lung. To this end, we measured the pulmonary venous effluent concentrations of the MAO substrate [(14)C]phenylethylamine and its metabolite [(14)C]phenylacetic acid after the bolus injection of either phenylethylamine or phenylacetic acid into the pulmonary artery of perfused rabbit lungs over a range of PO(2) values from 16 to 518 Torr. The apparent Michaelis constant for O(2) was approximately 18 microM, which is more than an order of magnitude less that measured for purified MAO. The results suggest a minimal influence of high O(2) on MAO activity in the normal lung and demonstrate the importance of measuring reaction kinetics in the intact organ.  (+info)

Dual action of octopamine on glucose transport into adipocytes: inhibition via beta3-adrenoceptor activation and stimulation via oxidation by amine oxidases. (51/574)

Octopamine, which is closely related to norepinephrine, acts as a neurotransmitter in invertebrates and is a trace amine with undefined properties in vertebrates. The octopaminergic receptors identified in insects are targets of various pesticides but are absent in vertebrates. We have established that octopamine stimulates fat cell lipolysis in mammals via activation of beta3-adrenoceptors (ARs), whereas this amine has been described elsewhere as an alpha2-AR agonist and as a substrate for monoamine oxidase (MAO) or semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO). Because we have recently reported that amine oxidase substrates promote glucose transport in rat and human adipocytes, the in vitro octopamine effects on lipolysis and glucose uptake were reassessed by using adipocytes from beta3-AR-deficient mice. The lipolytic effect and the counter-regulation of insulin action on glucose transport provoked by 0.1 to 1 mM octopamine or by 1 microM beta3-AR agonists found in control animals disappeared in adipocytes from beta3-AR-deficient mice. This revealed an insulin-like effect of octopamine on glucose uptake, which was dependent on its oxidation by MAO or SSAO, as was the case for tyramine and benzylamine, devoid of beta3-adrenergic agonism. Similarly, octopamine promoted glucose transport in human adipocytes and exhibited a weaker lipolytic stimulation than in rodent adipocytes. These findings indicate that, besides its lipolytic activity, octopamine exerts, at millimolar dose, dual effect on glucose transport in adipocytes: counteracting insulin action via beta3-AR activation and stimulating basal transport via its oxidation by MAO or SSAO.  (+info)

Antidepressants in social anxiety disorder. (52/574)

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a marked and persistent fear of doing almost everything in front of people due to concerns about being judge by others. An up-to-date review is needed in order to reach a practical judgement of all psychopharmacological data. Case reports, open and double-blind trials with SAD were described and commented upon from a clinical point of view. The MEDLINE system was searched from 1975 to 2001. The references from the selected papers were also used as a source. MAOIs (fenelzine, tranylcypromine), reversible monoamino oxidase-A inhibitors (moclobemide, brofaromine), SSRIs (paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine) and some other antidepressants (venlafaxine, nefazodone) have proven effective in several studies with various methodologies. The MAOIs have more serious adverse effects and the SSRIs have the best tolerance. SSRIs are efficacious and the first choice of treatment.  (+info)

Incorporation of selegiline metabolites into hair after oral selegiline intake. (53/574)

We have previously shown that melanin in human hair has a great impact on the incorporation of codeine into hair. The present study on 10 subjects was performed to investigate whether or not these findings could also be extrapolated to other therapeutic drugs. We chose selegiline because it metabolizes to two commonly abused central stimulants, methamphetamine and amphetamine. The results would therefore also be of interest when studying the intake of such drugs and their incorporation into human hair. Selegiline and metabolites were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, total melanin by spectrophotometry, and pyrrole-tricarboxylic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Our results show strong positive exponential relationships (y = e(x)) between melanin and the metabolites, which for methamphetamine improved by normalizing for plasma area under the curve. We conclude that the major metabolites of selegiline can be detected in hair up to four weeks after a single oral dose and that the incorporation closely relates to the melanin contents.  (+info)

Parallel nociceptive reflex pathways with negative and positive feedback functions to foot extensors in the cat. (54/574)

1. Nociceptive reflex pathways to foot extensors were investigated with particular attention given to those not following a flexor reflex (FRA) or withdrawal pattern. 2. In anaemically decapitated, high spinal paralysed cats nociceptive afferents of the foot pad were activated by noxious radiant heat (48-60 degrees C), while for comparison non-nociceptive afferents were activated by weak mechanical stimulation of the skin or graded electrical nerve stimulation. The reflex action of the afferents on hindlimb motoneurones, innervating plantaris and intrinsic foot extensors (tibial nerve), was investigated by intracellular recording, by monosynaptic reflex testing and by recording of neurograms during fictive locomotion. A possible descending control of the nociceptive and non-nociceptive pathways was tested by application of opioidergic and monoaminergic compounds. 3. Beside the typical FRA pattern evoked in the majority of hindlimb motoneurone pools by nociceptive afferents from different skin areas of the foot, the results revealed parallel excitatory and inhibitory nociceptive reflex pathways from the central pad and partly from the toe pads to foot extensors. The excitatory pathways, which did not follow the FRA pattern, were predominantly to plantaris and intrinsic foot extensors. They were distinctly less depressed by opioids and monoaminergic compounds than FRA pathways. 4. While the nociceptive FRA pathways have a general nocifensive withdrawal function, the nociceptive excitatory non-FRA pathway to the foot extensors causes a movement of the affected area towards the stimulus or at least a resistance against the stimulus, i.e. it mediates a positive feedback.  (+info)

Methylamine and benzylamine induced hypophagia in mice: modulation by semicarbazide-sensitive benzylamine oxidase inhibitors and aODN towards Kv1.1 channels. (55/574)

1. In starved mice, the anorectic activity of methylamine (MET) and benzylamine (BZ), both substrates of semicarbazide-sensitive benzylamine oxidases (Bz-SSAO), was compared with that of the potassium channel blocking agents charybdotoxin (ChTX), tetraethylammonium (TEA), gliquidone (GLI), ammonium chloride (NH(4)(+)) and of the anoressants amphetamine (AMPH) and nicotine (NIC). After i.c.v. administration, an approximate ranking order of potency was: ChTX> or =AMPH>NIC=TEA> or =GLI> or =MET>BZ>NH(4)(+). 2. Clorgyline (2.5 mg kg(-1) i.p.) or deprenyl (10 mg kg(-1) i.p.) potentiated the anorectic effect of i.c.v.-administered BZ, NIC and AMPH. The effect of TEA was increased only by deprenyl, while MET, NH(4)(+), ChTX and GLI were not affected by either of the inhibitors. 3. The Bz-SSAO inhibitors alpha-aminoguanidine (50 mg kg(-1) i.p.), B24 (100 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and MDL 72274 (2.5 mg kg(-1) i.p.) potentiated the effect of i.p., but not of i.c.v.-administered MET. 4. Antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (aODN) to Kv1.1 potassium channels abolished the effect of BZ and TEA, but was ineffective in reducing the activity of MET and other compounds. 5. These results suggest that MET is endowed with peculiar hypophagic effects at dosage levels that are not able to affect gross behaviour in mice. The effect of MET, differently from BZ, seems unrelated to an increase in the central release of monoaminergic mediators, as well as to a Kv1.1 blocking activity. Through a reduction of the endogenous breakdown of MET, Bz-SSAO inhibitors enhance the central pharmacological activity of this amine.  (+info)

In vitro inhibition of brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidase by 6-hydroxydopamine. (56/574)

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) inhibits rat brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO) when kynuramine or dopamine are used as substrates. The effect is competitive and reversible giving Ki values of 74 and 176 muM with the respective substrates. At high concentrations (5 mM) of each substrate, inhibition of MAO was not observed.  (+info)