Human Cortical Slices Research Articles

In Vitro Recordings of Human Neocortical Oscillations

Electrophysiological oscillations are thought to create temporal windows of communication between brain regions. We show here that human cortical slices maintained in vitro can generate oscillations similar to those observed in vivo. We have characterized these oscillations using local field potential and whole-cell recordings obtained from neocortical slices acquired during epilepsy surgery. We confirmed that such neocortical slices maintain the necessary cellular and circuitry components, and in particular inhibitory mechanisms, to manifest oscillatory activity when exposed to glutamatergic and cholinergic agonists. The generation of oscillations was dependent on intact synaptic activity and muscarinic receptors. Such oscillations differed in electrographic and pharmacological properties from epileptiform activity. Two types of activity, theta oscillations and high gamma activity, uniquely characterized this model-activity not typically observed in animal cortical slices. We observed theta oscillations to be synchronous across cortical laminae suggesting a novel role of theta as a substrate for interlaminar communication. As well, we observed cross-frequency coupling (CFC) between theta phase and high gamma amplitude similar to that observed in vivo. The high gamma "bursts" generated by such CFC varied in their frequency content, suggesting that this variability may underlie the broadband nature of high gamma activity.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated effects in slices from human epileptogenic cortex

Acetylcholine has been implicated in higher cortical functions such as learning, memory and cognition, yet the cellular effects of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) activation are poorly understood in the human cortex. Here we investigated the effect of the mAChR agonist carbachol (CCh) and various mAChR antagonists in human cortical slices (from tissue removed during neurosurgical treatment of epilepsy) by intracellular and extracellular recordings.CCh increased neuronal firing, which was antagonised by atropine (non-selective mAChR antagonist) and pirenzepine (M1/M4 mAChRs antagonist) when applied before or after CCh application. AF-DX 116 (M2/M4 mAChRs antagonist) had no effect on CCh-induced increase of firing. CCh also reduced evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP), and the CCh-induced depression of EPSP was fully reversed by atropine. Pirenzepine reversed the depression of CCh on EPSP, but failed to prevent the depression when applied before CCh. AF-DX 116 prevented the CCh-induced depression of evoked EPSP when applied before CCh. CCh also depressed GABAergic transmission and this effect was antagonised by AF-DX 116. Xanomeline (M1/M4 mAChR agonist) increased neuronal firing and decreased EPSP, but had no effect on GABAergic transmission. Reduction (with linopirdine) and enhancement (with retigabine) of the M-current (mediated by KV7 channels), increased and decreased neuronal firing, respectively, but had marginal effects on the evoked EPSP.Our results indicate that three pharmacologically distinct mAChRs modulate neuronal firing, glutamatergic and GABAergic transmissions in the human epileptogenic neocortex. The data are discussed towards possible implications of altered mAChR signalling in hyperexcitability and cognitive functions in the human neocortex.

Increased asynchronous GABA release causes more inhibition in human epileptic brain?

Increased asynchronous GABA release causes more inhibition in human epileptic brain?

Finding a better drug for epilepsy: The mTOR pathway as an antiepileptogenic target

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, and metabolism. Loss-of-function mutations in upstream regulators of mTOR have been highly associated with dysplasias, epilepsy, and neurodevelopmental disorders. These include tuberous sclerosis, which is due to mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes; mutations in phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) as in Cowden syndrome, polyhydramnios, megalencephaly, symptomatic epilepsy syndrome (PMSE) due to mutations in the STE20-related kinase adaptor alpha (STRADalpha); and neurofibromatosis type 1 attributed to neurofibromin 1 mutations. Inhibition of the mTOR pathway with rapamycin may prevent epilepsy and improve the underlying pathology in mouse models with disrupted mTOR signaling, due to PTEN or TSC mutations. However the timing and duration of its administration appear critical in defining the seizure and pathology-related outcomes. Rapamycin application in human cortical slices from patients with cortical dysplasias reduces the 4-aminopyridine-induced oscillations. In the multiple-hit model of infantile spasms, pulse high-dose rapamycin administration can reduce the cortical overactivation of the mTOR pathway, suppresses spasms, and has disease-modifying effects by partially improving cognitive deficits. In post-status epilepticus models of temporal lobe epilepsy, rapamycin may ameliorate the development of epilepsy-related pathology and reduce the expression of spontaneous seizures, but its effects depend on the timing and duration of administration, and possibly the model used. The observed recurrence of seizures and epilepsy-related pathology after rapamycin discontinuation suggests the need for continuous administration to maintain the benefit. However, the use of pulse administration protocols may be useful in certain age-specific epilepsy syndromes, like infantile spasms, whereas repetitive-pulse rapamycin protocols may suffice to sustain a long-term benefit in genetic disorders of the mTOR pathway. In summary, mTOR dysregulation has been implicated in several genetic and acquired forms of epileptogenesis. The use of mTOR inhibitors can reverse some of these epileptogenic processes, although their effects depend upon the timing and dose of administration as well as the model used.

Amyloid-β Oligomers Induce Differential Gene Expression in Adult Human Brain Slices

Cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease (AD) is increasingly attributed to the neuronal impact of soluble oligomers of the amyloid-β peptide (AβOs). Current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of AβOs stems largely from rodent-derived cell/tissue culture experiments or from transgenic models of AD, which do not necessarily recapitulate the complexity of the human disease. Here, we used DNA microarray and RT-PCR to investigate changes in transcription in adult human cortical slices exposed to sublethal doses of AβOs. The results revealed a set of 27 genes that showed consistent differential expression upon exposure of slices from three different donors to AβOs. Functional classification of differentially expressed genes revealed that AβOs impact pathways important for neuronal physiology and known to be dysregulated in AD, including vesicle trafficking, cell adhesion, actin cytoskeleton dynamics, and insulin signaling. Most genes (70%) were down-regulated by AβO treatment, suggesting a predominantly inhibitory effect on the corresponding pathways. Significantly, AβOs induced down-regulation of synaptophysin, a presynaptic vesicle membrane protein, suggesting a mechanism by which oligomers cause synapse failure. The results provide insight into early mechanisms of pathogenesis of AD and suggest that the neuronal pathways affected by AβOs may be targets for the development of novel diagnostic or therapeutic approaches.

Opposite effects of the μ-opioid receptor agonist DAMGO and endogenous acetylcholine on GABAergic IPSC in mouse striatum

Acetylcholine has been implicated in higher cortical functions such as learning, memory and cognition, yet the cellular effects of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) activation are poorly understood in the human cortex. Here we investigated the effect of the mAChR agonist carbachol (CCh) and various mAChR antagonists in human cortical slices (from tissue removed during neurosurgical treatment of epilepsy) by intracellular and extracellular recordings.CCh increased neuronal firing, which was antagonised by atropine (non-selective mAChR antagonist) and pirenzepine (M1/M4 mAChRs antagonist) when applied before or after CCh application. AF-DX 116 (M2/M4 mAChRs antagonist) had no effect on CCh-induced increase of firing. CCh also reduced evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP), and the CCh-induced depression of EPSP was fully reversed by atropine. Pirenzepine reversed the depression of CCh on EPSP, but failed to prevent the depression when applied before CCh. AF-DX 116 prevented the CCh-induced depression of evoked EPSP when applied before CCh. CCh also depressed GABAergic transmission and this effect was antagonised by AF-DX 116. Xanomeline (M1/M4 mAChR agonist) increased neuronal firing and decreased EPSP, but had no effect on GABAergic transmission. Reduction (with linopirdine) and enhancement (with retigabine) of the M-current (mediated by KV7 channels), increased and decreased neuronal firing, respectively, but had marginal effects on the evoked EPSP.Our results indicate that three pharmacologically distinct mAChRs modulate neuronal firing, glutamatergic and GABAergic transmissions in the human epileptogenic neocortex. The data are discussed towards possible implications of altered mAChR signalling in hyperexcitability and cognitive functions in the human neocortex.

Age Dependency of Inhibition of α7 Nicotinic Receptors and Tonically Active N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors by Endogenously Produced Kynurenic Acid in the Brain

In the mouse hippocampus normal levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), a neuroactive metabolite synthesized in astrocytes primarily by kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II)-catalyzed transamination of L-kynurenine, maintain a degree of tonic inhibition of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The present in vitro study was designed to test the hypothesis that α7 nAChR activity decreases when endogenous production of KYNA increases. Incubation (2-7 h) of rat hippocampal slices with kynurenine (200 μM) resulted in continuous de novo synthesis of KYNA. Kynurenine conversion to KYNA was significantly decreased by the KAT II inhibitor (S)-(-)-9-(4-aminopiperazine-1-yl)-8-fluoro-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1-oxa-3a-azaphenalene-5carboxylic acid (BFF122) (100 μM) and was more effective in slices from postweaned than preweaned rats. Incubation of slices from postweaned rats with kynurenine inhibited α7 nAChRs and extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) on CA1 stratum radiatum interneurons. These effects were attenuated by BFF122 and mimicked by exogenously applied KYNA (200 μM). Exposure of human cerebral cortical slices to kynurenine also inhibited α7 nAChRs. The α7 nAChR sensitivity to KYNA is age-dependent, because neither endogenously produced nor exogenously applied KYNA inhibited α7 nAChRs in slices from preweaned rats. In these slices, kynurenine-derived KYNA also failed to inhibit extrasynaptic NMDARs, which could, however, be inhibited by exogenously applied KYNA. In slices from preweaned and postweaned rats, glutamatergic synaptic currents were not affected by endogenously produced KYNA, but were inhibited by exogenously applied KYNA. These results suggest that in the mature brain α7 nAChRs and extrasynaptic NMDARs are in close apposition to KYNA release sites and, thereby, readily accessible to inhibition by endogenously produced KYNA.

The Antiepileptic Drug Levetiracetam Stabilizes the Human Epileptic GABAA Receptors upon Repetitive Activation

GABAA receptors from the brain of patients afflicted with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) become less efficient (run-down) when repetitively activated by GABA. Experiments were designed to investigate whether the antiepileptic drug, levetiracetam (LEV), which is used as an adjunctive treatment for medically intractable MTLE, counteracts the GABAA receptor run-down. GABAA receptors were microtransplanted from the brains of patients afflicted with MTLE into Xenopus oocytes. The GABA-current run-down, caused by repetitive applications of GABA, was investigated using the standard two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. Additionally, the GABA-current run-down was investigated directly on pyramidal neurons in human MTLE cortical slices. It was found that, in oocytes injected with membranes isolated from the MTLE neocortex, the GABA-current run-down was inhibited by a 3-h pretreatment with 0.5-100 microM LEV. Moreover, the GABAA receptors of pyramidal neurons in human neocortical slices exhibited a current run-down that was significantly reduced by 1 microM LEV. Interestingly, the run-down in oocytes injected with membranes isolated from the MTLE hippocampal subiculum was not affected by LEV. We report that the antiepileptic LEV strengthens GABA inhibition of neuronal circuits by blocking the receptor run-down in the cortex whilst leaving the run-down of GABAA receptors in the hippocampal subiculum unaltered. These findings point to the GABAA receptor run-down as an important event in epileptogenesis and as a possible target for testing and screening antiepileptic drugs.

In vitro responsiveness of human-drug-resistant tissue to antiepileptic drugs: Insights into the mechanisms of pharmacoresistance

Pharmacoresistance in epileptic patients may be ascribed to at least two, not mutually exclusive, mechanisms: a pharmacokinetic mechanism and a decreased sensitivity or availability of targets to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs; i.e., carbamazepine and phenytoin (CBZ, PHT)). Brain:plasma drug concentration ratios were determined intraoperatively during lobectomies performed to alleviate drug-resistant seizures. The brain:plasma ratio of CBZ was 1.48 when therapeutic serum levels (15–34 μM) were achieved. When concentrations of CBZ found in multiple-drug-resistant brain were directly applied to human cortical slices from drug-resistant patients made hyperexcitable and hypersynchronous by Mg 2+-free media, bursting frequency was not significantly affected and overall excitability was reduced by 40%. Similar results were obtained for PHT. At higher AED concentrations (60–200 μM), a dose-dependent decrease of bursting frequency and amplitude was observed. Slices from drug-resistant epileptic patients made hypersynchronous/hyperexcitable by elevated potassium or inhibition of GABA-A receptors behaved similarly. Of note is the response of slices from human multiple-drug-resistant brain, which was greater than in rodent cortex from naive animals. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that multiple drug resistance to AEDs involves cerebrovascular changes that impede the achievement of appropriate drug levels in the central nervous system.

Characteristics of glutamine metabolism in human precision-cut kidney slices: a 13C-NMR study.

The metabolism of glutamine, a physiological substrate of the human kidney, plays a major role in systemic acid-base homoeostasis. Not only because of the limited availability of human renal tissue but also in part due to the lack of adequate cellular models, the mechanisms regulating the renal metabolism of this amino acid in humans have been poorly characterized. Therefore given the renewed interest in their use, human precision-cut renal cortical slices were incubated in Krebs-Henseleit medium (118 mM NaCl, 4.7 mM KCl, 1.18 mM KH2PO4, 1.18 mM MgSO4*7H2O, 24.9 mM NaHCO3 and 2.5 mM CaCl2*2H2O) with 2 mM unlabelled or 13C-labelled glutamine residues. After incubation, substrate utilization and product formation were measured by enzymatic and NMR spectroscopic methods. Glutamate accumulation tended to plateau but glutamine removal and ammonia, alanine and lactate production as well as flux through GLDH (glutamate dehydrogenase) increased to various extents with time for up to 4 h of incubation indicating the metabolic viability of the slices. Valproate, a stimulator of renal glutamine metabolism, markedly and in a dose-dependent fashion increased ammonia production. With [3-13C]glutamine as a substrate, and in the absence and presence of valproate, [13C]glutamate, [13C]alanine and [13C]lactate accounted for 81 and 96%, 34 and 63%, 30 and 46% of the glutamate, alanine and lactate accumulations measured enzymatically respectively. The slices also metabolized glutamine and retained their reactivity to valproate during incubations lasting for up to 48 h. These results demonstrate that, although endogenous metabolism substantially operates in the presence of glutamine, human precision-cut renal cortical slices are metabolically viable and strongly respond to the ammoniagenic effect of valproate. Thus, this experimental model is suitable for metabolic and pharmaco-toxicological studies.

In Vitro Effect of Cyclic Adenosine 3′, 5′-Monophosphate (cAMP) on Early Human Ovarian Follicles

To test the effect of cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) on early human ovarian follicles during prolonged culture period. Donated ovarian biopsies from 16 women undergoing gynecological laparoscopy were cut into slices and cultured in parallel for 1, 2, or 3 weeks in the presence and the absence of 0.5 mM 8-bromo-cAMP. The developmental stages, sizes, and viability of the follicles were recorded from histological sections of all samples. On day 14, cortical slices cultured with 8-bromo-cAMP showed a significantly higher proportion of secondary follicles (50.0% vs. 20.0%) and a lower proportion of primordial follicles (9.7% vs. 26.7%) when compared with those cultured without 8-bromo-cAMP. On day 21, the proportion of viable follicles in cortical slices with 8-bromo-cAMP treatment was significantly higher than that without 8-bromo-cAMP treatment (79.6% vs. 55.2%). CyclicAMP promoted folliculogenesis and follicle survival during 14-21 days' culture of human ovarian cortical slices.

Metabolic viability and pharmaco-toxicological reactivity of cryopreserved human precision-cut renal cortical slices

We have tested the suitability of cryopreserved human precision-cut renal cortical slices for metabolic and pharmaco-toxicological studies. The viability of these slices and their pharmaco-toxicological reactivity were assessed using intracellular ATP and protein contents, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, lactate and glutamine metabolism and the ammoniagenic effect of valproate. Despite a decrease in ATP and protein contents when compared with those of fresh slices, cryopreserved slices did not show any LDH leakage and retained the capacity to metabolize glutamine and lactate. Glutamine removal and ammonia, lactate and alanine production were similar in fresh and cryopreserved slices; by contrast, cryopreserved slices accumulated more glutamate as a result of decreased flux through glutamate dehydrogenase which catalyses an oxygen-dependent reaction. Valproate markedly and similarly stimulated glutamine metabolism in fresh and cryopreserved slices. Cryopreservation did not alter lactate removal but inhibited lactate gluconeogenesis. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that, although their mitochondrial oxidative metabolism seems to be diminished, cryopreserved human precision-cut renal cortical slices remain metabolically viable and retain the capacity to respond to the ammoniagenic effect of valproate. Thus, this experimental model may be helpful to optimize the use of human renal tissue for metabolic and pharmaco-toxicological studies.

In vitro hypoxia and excitotoxicity in human brain induce calcineurin–bcl-2 interactions

Although pathogenesis of neuronal ischemia is incompletely understood, evidence indicates apoptotic neuronal death after ischemia. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective protein, interacts with calcineurin in non-neuronal tissues. Activation of calcineurin, which is abundant in the brain, may play a role in apoptosis. Using co-immunoprecipitation experiments in biopsy-derived, fresh human cortical and hippocampal slices, we examined possible interactions between calcineurin and Bcl-2. Calcineuin–Bcl-2 interactions increased after exposure in vitro to excitotoxic agents and conditions of hypoxia/aglycia. This interaction may shuttle calcineurin to substrates such as the inositol-1,4,5-tris-phosphate receptor because under these experimental conditions interactions between calcineurin and inositol-1,4,5-tris-phosphate receptor also increased. A specific calcineurin inhibitor, FK-520, attenuated insult-induced increases in calcineurin–Bcl-2 interactions and augmented caspase-3 like activity. These data suggest that Bcl-2 modulates neuroprotective effects of calcineurin and that calcineurin inhibitors increase ischemic neuronal damage.

Ex vivo stimulation of renal transport of the cytostatic drugs methotrexate, cisplatin, topotecan (Hycamtin) and raltitrexed (Tomudex) by dexamethasone, T3 and EGF in intact human and rat kidney tissue and in human renal cell carcinoma.

Previous experiments have shown that both in vivo and in vitro pre-treatment with various hormones increases the renal transport capacity for weak organic acids, such as PAH, in rats. The aim of the present study was to test whether or not accumulation of the anticancer drugs methotrexate (MTX), cisplatin (CP), raltitrexed (Tomudex) and topotecan (Hycamtin) can be increased in intact, healthy rat and human renal cortical slices and in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Intact, healthy human tissue was obtained from tumour bearing kidneys of patients suffering from RCC. Experiments were intended as a new approach to overcome so-called multidrug resistance. Kidney tissue slices were incubated for 24 h in William's medium E containing various concentrations of dexamethasone, T(3), or EGF. Thereafter slices were placed in anticancer drug containing Cross-Taggart medium and the drug uptake into kidney tissue was measured for 2 h. In intact rat and human renal tissue slices, the uptake of p-aminohippurate (PAH = reference substance) increased significantly after incubation in dexamethasone containing medium (134% and 156%, respectively). There were no stimulating effects of either T(3) or EGF on PAH accumulation. On the other hand, only the accumulation of MTX, but not of CP, raltitrexed or topotecan, was significantly enhanced after hormone pre-treatment both in intact renal tissue and in RCC. A stimulation of renal PAH accumulation can be performed ex vivo, as reported previously, both in intact rat and human renal cortical slices and in RCC. Discrepancies between the effects of dexamethasone and T(3) or EGF indicate different modes of action of these substances at the cellular level. Unfortunately, with the exception of MTX, the uptake of anticancer drugs can not be stimulated effectively ex vivo in human RCC tissue by the substances used. Evidently the transport of these anticancer drugs out of the kidney cells is more effective than their uptake.

The nicotinic allosteric potentiating ligand galantamine facilitates synaptic transmission in the mammalian central nervous system.

In this study, the patch-clamp technique was used to determine the effects of galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor and a nicotinic allosteric potentiating ligand (APL) used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, on synaptic transmission in brain slices. In rat hippocampal and human cerebral cortical slices, 1 microM galantamine, acting as a nicotinic APL, increased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release triggered by 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh). Likewise, 1 microM galantamine, acting as an APL on presynaptically located nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) that are tonically active, potentiated glutamatergic or GABA-ergic transmission between Schaffer collaterals and CA1 neurons in rat hippocampal slices. The cholinesterase inhibitors rivastigmine, donepezil, and metrifonate, which are devoid of nicotinic APL action, did not affect synaptic transmission. Exogenous application of ACh indicated that high and low levels of nAChR activation in the Schaffer collaterals inhibit and facilitate, respectively, glutamate release onto CA1 neurons. The finding then that the nAChR antagonists methyllycaconitine and dihydro-beta-erythroidine facilitated glutamatergic transmission between Schaffer collaterals and CA1 neurons indicated that in a single hippocampal slice, the inhibitory action of strongly, tonically activated nAChRs in some glutamatergic fibers prevails over the facilitatory action of weakly, tonically activated nAChRs in other glutamatergic fibers synapsing onto a given neuron. Galantamine is known to sensitize nAChRs to activation by low, but not high agonist concentrations. Therefore, at 1 microM, galantamine is likely to increase facilitation of synaptic transmission by weakly, tonically activated nAChRs just enough to override inhibition by strongly, tonically activated nAChRs. In conclusion, the nicotinic APL action can be an important determinant of the therapeutic effectiveness of galantamine.

SB-236057-A: a selective 5-HT1B receptor inverse agonist.

5-HT1B autoreceptors are involved in the control of extracellular 5-HT levels from both the terminal and cell body regions of serotonergic neurons. In this manuscript we review the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic data available for the selective and potent 5-HT1B receptor inverse agonist, SB-236057-A (1'-ethyl-5-(2'-methyl-4'-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-2-yl)biphenyl-4-carbonyl)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrospiro (furo[2,3-f]indole-3,4'-piperidine) hydrochloride). SB 236057-A has been shown to have high affinity for human 5-HT1B receptors (pK(i) = 8.2) and displays 80 or more fold selectivity for the human 5-HT1B receptor over other 5-HT receptors and a range of additional receptors, ion channels and enzymes. In functional studies at human 5-HT1B receptors SB-236057-A displayed inverse agonism (pA(2) = 8.9) using [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding, and silent antagonism (pA(2) = 9.2) using cAMP accumulation. SB-236057-A also acted as an antagonist at the 5-HT terminal autoreceptor as measured by [3H]5-HT release from electrically stimulated guinea pig and human cortical slices. In the guinea pig, pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that SB-236057-A was bioavailable and according to in vivo pharmacodynamic assays it enters brain and has a long duration of action. Importantly no side effect liability was evident at relevant doses from anxiogenic, cardiovascular, sedative or migraine viewpoints. In vivo microdialysis studies demonstrated that SB-236057-A is an antagonist in the guinea pig cortex but has no effect on extracellular 5-HT levels per se. In contrast, SB-236057-A increased extracellular 5-HT levels in the guinea pig dentate gyrus. This increase in 5-HT release was comparable to that observed after 14 days of paroxetine administration. SB-236057-A has been a useful tool in confirming that, in either guinea pigs or humans, the terminal 5-HT autoreceptor is of the 5-HT1B subtype. It appears that acute 5-HT1B receptor blockade, by virtue of increased 5-HT release in the dentate gyrus, may provide a rapidly acting antidepressant.

Nephrotoxic effects of ionic and nonionic contrast media on rat and human renal cortical slices

Background. Nephrotoxicity is a well-known adverse effect of radiographic contrast medium (CM). Recently, several kinds of low- osmolality nonionic CM have been developed. However, the nephrotoxic effects of nonionic CM compared with those of ionic CM have not been well evaluated. Methods. To compare the direct nephrotoxic effects of ionic and nonionic CM on renal epithelial cells, rat and human renal cortical slices were incubated with CM at 37°C for 120 min. Diatrizoate and iothalamate were employed as ionic CM. Iopamidol, iohexol, iomeprol, ioversol, iopromide, and ioxilan were employed as nonionic CM. Direct toxicity of CM was evaluated by the activities of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and γ-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) released from the renal slices into the incubation buffer. Results. In the experiment with rat renal slices, NAG and GGT activities in buffer solutions were increased dose-dependently by 30, 60, and 90 mg I/ml of CM. There was no significant difference in NAG or GGT release between ionic and nonionic CM at the concentration of 60 mg I/ml. In the experiment with human renal slices, incubation with 60 mg I/ml of diatrizoate, iothalamate, iomeprol, and iopromide did not affect NAG levels. Significantly greater increases in NAG levels, compared with the control, were observed after incubation with iopamidol, iohexol, ioxilan and ioversol. Nevertheless, the increases in NAG caused by some of the nonionic CM were very slight. GGT release from human renal slices was significantly greater than that of the control in all experimental groups. Again, there was no significant difference in renal toxicity between ionic and nonionic CM. Conclusions. Newly developed nonionic CM had almost the same degree of nephrotoxicity against rat and human renal epithelial cells as conventional ionic CM, when direct renal toxicity was evaluated by enzyme release in an in-vitro experimental system using renal cortical slices.

Ex vivo stimulation of renal tubular p-aminohippurate transport by dexamethasone and triiodothyronine in human renal cell carcinoma.

This paper is the third of a long-term planned series of papers dealing with ex vivo investigations of drug transport in human kidney. The aims of this study are (a) to investigate whether or not human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can actively accumulate p-aminohippurate (PAH) and (b) to test the response of RCC on dexamethasone or triiodothyronine (T3) using tissue slices ex vivo. By this approach, the accumulation capacity of RCC should be stimulated as a prerequisite for an increased uptake of anti-tumour drugs. Tissue slices of RCC samples of 30 patients were incubated for 24 h in Williams medium E containing 0.01-50 microM dexamethasone or T3. Thereafter, slices were placed in PAH-containing Cross-Taggart medium, and PAH uptake into kidney tissue was measured for 2h under standardised conditions as described previously. In intact human renal cortical slices, PAH uptake capacity, expressed as slice to medium ratio (QS/M), was about 2.8 +/- 0.16 after 24 h of incubation and increased significantly in dexamethasone-containing medium in a concentration-dependent manner, up to approximately 150%, whereas T3 did not influence PAH accumulation. On the other hand, in RCC the PAH accumulation capacity was completely abolished (QsM approximately 1). However, after administration of dexamethasone, the accumulated amount of PAH increased significantly in RCC tissue in a concentration-dependent manner, up to approximately 190%. T3 was without effect in RCC, too. Surprisingly, the dexamethasone-mediated stimulation could be differentiated into responders and non-responders, with maximal effects at different concentrations for each patient. Nevertheless, the maximal transport rates remained low in RCC, even under hormone influence. In conclusion, a moderate stimulation of tubular transport capacity can be shown ex vivo in human RCC. This phenomenon is only of a relatively low degree compared with intact renal tissue. However, in principle, the response of RCC on dexamethasone could form a basis for further therapeutic strategies to overcome multi-drug resistance in RCC patients. For this purpose, additional experiments analysing the expression of transporters of the ABC cassette-type are in progress.

Neuronal nicotinic receptors in synaptic functions in humans and rats: physiological and clinical relevance

The present report describes the participation of nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) in controlling the excitability of local neuronal circuitries in the rat hippocampus and in the human cerebral cortex. The patch-clamp technique was used to record responses triggered by the non-selective agonist ACh and the α7-nAChR-selective agonist choline in interneurons of human cerebral cortical and rat hippocampal slices. Evidence is provided that functional α7- and α4β2-like nAChRs are present on somatodendritic and/or preterminal/terminal regions of interneurons in the CA1 field of the rat hippocampus and in the human cerebral cortex and that activation of the different nAChR subtypes present in the preterminal/terminal areas of the interneurons triggers the tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of GABA. Modulation by nAChRs of GABAergic transmission, which can result either in inhibition or disinhibition of pyramidal neurons, depends both on the receptor subtype present in the interneurons and on the agonist acting upon these receptors. Not only do α7 nAChRs desensitize faster than α4β2 nAChRs, but also α7 nAChR desensitization induced by ACh lasts longer than that induced by choline. These mechanisms, which appear to be retained across species, might explain the involvement of nAChRs in cognitive functions and in such neurological disorders as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.

SB-236057, a selective 5-HT 1B receptor inverse agonist, blocks the 5-HT human terminal autoreceptor

A novel compound, SB-236057 (1′-ethyl-5-(2′-methyl-4′-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)biphenyl-4-carbonyl)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrospiro[furo[2,3-f]indole-3,4′-piperidine]) has been shown to have high affinity for human 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B (5-HT 1B) receptors (p K i=8.2) and displays over 75 or more-fold selectivity for the human 5-HT 1B receptor over other 5-HT receptors, including the human 5-HT 1D receptor, and a range of other receptors, ion channels and enzymes. In functional studies using [ 35 S ]GTPγS binding, SB-236057 displayed negative intrinsic activity (pEC 50=8.0) at human 5-HT 1B receptors stably expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and caused a rightward shift of agonist concentration response curves consistent with competitive antagonism (p A 2=8.9). SB-236057 potentiated [ 3 H ]5-HT release from electrically stimulated guinea pig or human cortical slices. SB-236057 also abolished the inhibitory effect of exogenously superfused 5-HT on electrically-stimulated release from slices of the guinea pig cortex. These studies using SB-236057 confirm that, in both the guinea pig and human cerebral cortex, the terminal 5-HT autoreceptor is of the 5-HT 1B subtype.