Brain Cell Membranes Research Articles

Effect of Cyclooxygenase Inhibition on Brain Cell Membrane Lipid Peroxidation during Hypoxia in Newborn Piglets

To test the hypothesis that indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, reduces free radical-induced brain cell membrane changes during cerebral hypoxia, we determined levels of brain cell membrane lipid peroxidation products and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity as indicators of free radical production and membrane function, respectively, in 29 newborn piglets divided into 4 groups. Eight saline- and 4 indomethacin-treated normoxic animals served as controls; 8 saline-pretreated piglets and 9 piglets pretreated with indomethacin were exposed to hypoxic hypoxia for 60 min. Cerebral hypoxia was documented using 31P-NMR spectroscopy. In saline-pretreated hypoxic animals Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity decreased significantly and levels of membrane lipid peroxidation products increased significantly compared to normoxic controls. Indomethacin pretreatment prevented the hypoxia-induced increase in membrane lipid peroxidation products but had no effect on the decrease in Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. Thus the apparent reduction in free radical production by indomethacin pretreatment did not prevent the hypoxia-induced change in Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity.

Imidazo[1,2-b]Pyridazines. XVI. Synthesis and Central Nervous System Activities of Some 6-(Chloro, Alkylthio, Phenylthio, Benzylthio or Pyridinylmethylthio)-3-(unsubstituted, benzamidomethyl or methoxy)-2-(styryl or benzoyl)imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazines

Some 6-( chloro, alkylthio, phenylthio, benzylthio or pyridinylmethylthio )-3-( unsubstituted , benzamidomethyl or methoxy )-2-styrylimidazo[1,2-b] pyridazines and 6-chloro-3-( unsubstituted and benzamidomethyl )-2-benzoylimidazo[1,2-b] pyridazines have been prepared and tested for their ability to displace [3H]diazepam from rat brain plasma membranes. The structures of 6-chloro-2-benzoyl[and 6-fluoro-2-(4′-tolyl)] imidazo [1,2-b] pyridazine have been confirmed by X-ray analyses. The reactions of 6-methylthio(and 6-phenylthio)pyridazin-3-amines with 3-bromo-1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione also have been investigated. The 6-substituted 3-unsubstituted 2-styryl(and benzoyl ) imidazo [1,2-b] pyridazines did not bind strongly to rat brain benzodiazepine receptors; nor did the 3-benzamidomethyl or 3-methoxy derivatives (cf. the 2-phenyl analogues). However, 3-benzamidomethyl-6-(pyridin-3-ylmethylthio)-2-styrylimidazo[1,2-b] pyridazine was an exception with IC50 68 nM.

O-127 - Inhibition by vinblastine and vin cristine of fatty acid and Ca2>-activated guanylate cyclase of brain plasma membrane.

O-127 - Inhibition by vinblastine and vin cristine of fatty acid and Ca2>-activated guanylate cyclase of brain plasma membrane.

De novo protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation during anoxia and recovery in the red-eared turtle.

Changes in de novo protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation were monitored during anoxia and recovery in the red-eared slider Trachemys (= Pseudemys) scripta elegans. Time courses of 35S-radiolabeled methionine incorporation into acid-precipitable material showed an increase up to 5 h postinjection and remained constant after this time. Comparison of the total and acid-precipitable 35S label incorporation into tissues from 20-h control, anoxic, and recovering animals showed differences between these groups: total radioactivity in brain was 2.9-fold lower in recovering turtles, whereas protein-associated radioactivity was 2.4-fold higher in anoxic liver, 2.3-fold lower in recovering skeletal muscle, and 3.7-fold lower in recovering brain tissue. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of radiolabeled proteins showed the existence of a newly synthesized protein band (relative molecular mass = 72 kDa) that was apparent only in 20-h recovering liver and skeletal muscle. Use of 32P labeling to monitor changes in protein phosphorylation patterns during anoxia revealed 1.6-, 1.4-, and 1.5-fold increases in 32P incorporation in anoxic brain, heart, and liver, respectively. Changes in protein phosphorylation were localized to the plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions in brain and to the cytosolic fraction in liver.

Characterization and purification of the solubilized pituitary adenylate‐cyclase‐activating polypeptide‐1 receptor from porcine brain using a biotinylated ligand

A specific receptor for the brain-gut neuropeptide pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP-1 receptor) was solubilized with Chapso from porcine brain plasma membranes and purified. Binding of 125I-PACAP(1-27) to the solubilized material was reversed equipotently by unlabeled PACAP(1-27) and PACAP(1-38). Soluble receptors retained the binding affinities and specificities of the plasma membrane fraction. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium-binding data indicated the existence of a single high-affinity binding site (Kd = 0.23 nM, Bmax = 1.2 pmol/mg protein). Binding of 125I-PACAP(1-27) to solubilized receptors was not affected by guanosine nucleotides, suggesting that solubilization dissociates the PACAP-1 receptor/guanosine-nucleotide-binding protein complex. Affinity cross-linking of 125I-PACAP(1-27) to soluble PACAP-1 receptors identified a specifically labeled 60-kDa protein. Enzymic deglycosylation of soluble affinity-labeled receptors reduced the apparent molecular mass by 10 kDa. The solubilized receptor glycoprotein was purified 4-5-fold by lectin-adsorption chromatography on wheatgerm agglutinin immobilized on agarose. S-Biotinyl[Ala28-34, Cys35]PACAP(1-35) was synthesized, immobilized on streptavidin-coated magnetic Sepharose beads and used to further affinity-purify wheatgerm-agglutinin-eluted receptor material. This more than 6000-fold enriched PACAP-1-receptor-preparation retained single-class high-affinity binding and consisted of an almost homogenous 55-60-kDa protein identified by silver staining. In conclusion, we established a rapid method for purification of PACAP-1 receptors, allowing further studies to be performed by protein chemistry.

In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study on premature aging in adult Down's syndrome

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1H-MRS) was performed in a group of 18 adult patients with Down's syndrome (DS) aged 20–46 years, and the peak area ratios (NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho) of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), total creatine (Cr), and choline-containing compounds (Cho) calculated separately in the patients in their 20's, 30's, and 40's. In age-matched healthy control groups, there were no significant age-related changes in any of the peak area ratios. In contrast, in the DS group, although the relative amount of NAA (NAA/Cr) showed no significant changes with increasing age, the relative amount of Cho (Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho) was significantly increased in the 40's group. At least as judged by MRI, few age-related general morphological changes such as brain atrophy were apparent in the third, fourth, and fifth decade groups. However, the MRI findings considered together with the age-related changes in the peak area ratios suggest that in DS patients in the fifth decade metabolic abnormalities such as degradation and/or rapid synthesis of brain cell membrane may occur prior to neuronal loss and degeneration.

Brain cell membrane Na +,K +-ATPase modification following hypoxia in the guinea pig fetus

The effect of hypoxia in utero on the affinity of the active sites of Na +,K +-ATPase for Na +, K + and ATP of the fetal guinea pig brain was investigated. Brain cell membranes were prepared from normoxic and hypoxic guinea pig fetuses, and a detailed enzyme kinetics analysis was carried out. In the hypoxic fetal brain membranes the K a 0.5 for Na + and K + increased 104% and 20%, respectively, indicating a decrease in the affinity of the active sites of the enzyme for Na + and K +. The affinity of the ATP site increased, as indicated by a decrease in the K m of 37% in hypoxic brain. The results indicate that changes in the affinity of active sites would affect the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation mechanisms of the Na +, K +-ATPase reaction. The increased affinity for ATP will favor the phosphorylation step, but will be opposed by the decrease in the Na + affinity. The decreased affinity of the active site for K + would oppose the dephosphorylation of the enzyme-P complex causing the enzyme to be trapped in an inactive phosphorylated state. The results demonstrated the sensitivity of the Na +,K +-ATPase active sites to hypoxia, and illustrated a selective modification of the enzyme active sites under hypoxic conditions, a key mechanism altering the cell membrane function leading to hypoxic brain damage.

Modification of NMDA receptor by in vitro lipid peroxidation in fetal guinea pig brain

The effect of lipid peroxidation on the NMDA receptor and its modulatory sites in fetal guinea pig brain cell membranes was examined. P2 membrane fractions were prepared from the fetal brain tissue and peroxidized in the presence of ferric chloride and ascorbate. [ 3H]-MK-801-binding studies were performed and B max (number of binding sites) and Kd (affinity) values were used as indices of NMDA receptor modification. In lipid-peroxidized membranes the Kd value increased from 6.76 ± 2.69 in control to 15.12 ± 7.38 nM ( P<0.01), indicating a decreased affinity of NMDA receptors following lipid peroxidation. However, there was no significant change in B max. The glutamate- and glycine-dependent increase in activation was 40% lower in lipid-peroxidized membranes as compared to control. The spermine-dependent activation was also significantly reduced following lipid peroxidation as compared to control suggesting decreased affinity of spermine site. The results of this study indicate that lipid peroxidation modifies recognition, coactivator and spermine sites of NMDA receptor by decreasing its affinity without affecting the number of binding sites. Normal activation of NMDA receptor is important for neuritic growth, synaptogenesis, long-term potentiation and synaptic plasticity. Therefore, we speculate that any clinical condition causing lipid peroxidation of brain cell membranes could jeopardize these maturational processes in the developing brain causing neurological impairment.

Prediction of Therapeutic Doses of Antipsychotic Drugs as Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists. Approach Based on Receptor Occupancy Theory.

Antipsychotic drugs have been widely used in humans for the treatment of schizophrenic psychosis. It is widely accepted that the pharmacological activities of antipsychotic drugs are best associated with its dopamine D2 receptor blockade. The usual therapeutic doses vary to a high extent among the antipsychotic drugs with the maximum of about 500-fold difference, despite of the same clinical improvement. In order to clarify the mechanism of this difference, we analyzed retrospectively the pharmacotherapeutic effects of antipsychotic drugs based on the receptor occupancy theory. Since the antipsychotic drugs readily transfer across the brain cell membranes, the dopamine D2 receptor occupancies of various drugs were calculated by using both their unbound concentrations in plasma and dissociation constants(Kd) for dopamine D2 receptor, and then compared with those determined by PET. The calculated dopamine D2 receptor occupancies of antipsychotic drugs which had no active metabolites were almost constant (76.4±15.0%) and corresponded to those determined by PET (80.0±7.6%). On the other hand, the calculated receptor occupancies of antipsychotic drugs which had active metabolites varied between 0.8 to 35% because of no consideration of active metabolites. However, those determined by PET were stable (79.8±4.1%). This finding indicated that the usual doses of antipsychotic drugs allowed to get about 79% as the optimum dopamine D2 receptor occupancy. Furthermore, the simulation of effect-receptor occupancy curves based on the ternary complex model indicated that the large receptor occupancy was necessary for sufficient therapeutic effect of antipsychotic drugs. Based on these findings, we could develop a methodology for estimating the rational usual dose of a newly developed drug by using Kd and data on pharmacokinetics in phase I clinical study.

Effects of ethanol ingestion on glucose transporter-1 protein and MRNA levels in rat brain

In the normal adult brain, glucose provides 90 % of the energy requirement, as well as substrate for nucleic acid and lipid synthesis. We have previously observed that ethanol impairs hexose uptake by rat astrocytes in culture. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats, 200–250 g, were fed liquid diet in which 36 % of the calories were derived from ethanol (EF) for 4 weeks. Controls were fed ad libitum (AF) or pair-fed (PF) an equicaloric diet without ethanol. Blood glucose levels did not differ between the groups at the time of study. Glucose transport by brain plasma membranes was characterized by cytochalasin B binding and showed a slight increase in transporter number (mean ± SEM of 4 experiments = 76.4 ± 2.5 pmoles/mg protein in EF vs. 69.5 ± 1.0 in PF) with no change in affinity (1.8 ± 0.1 nM −1 in EF and 1.6 ± 0.1 in PF. Glucose transporter, GLUT-1, was increased on Western blots. In contrast, Northern analysis of cortical tissue, using a rat brain glucose transporter cDNA insert (1.59 kb Bgl II fragment of pSPGT-1), showed a 23 to 35% decrease in steady-state levels of glucose transporter mRNA. GLUT-1 mRNA, localized in brain sections by in situ hybridization histochemistry, showed marked reductions in choroid plexus and hippocampus following ethanol treatment. Ethanol appears to have multiple effects on brain GLUT-1.

O-3 - Type specificities of exogenous glutamate receptor modulators from rat brain cell membranes.

O-3 - Type specificities of exogenous glutamate receptor modulators from rat brain cell membranes.

NMDA receptor modification in the fetal guinea pig brain during hypoxia.

The effect of maternal hypoxia on the modification of the fetal brain cell membrane N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and its modulatory sites was investigated. Experiments were conducted in pregnant guinea pigs of 60 days of gestation. Guinea pig fetuses were exposed to maternal hypoxia (FiO2 = 7%) for 60 minutes. Tissue hypoxia in the fetal brain was documented biochemically by decreased levels of ATP and phosphocreatine (91.3% and 88.6% lower than normoxia, respectively). MK-801 binding characteristics (Bmax = number of receptors, Kd = affinity of receptor) were used as an index of NMDA receptor modification. P2 membrane fraction was prepared from the cortex of normoxic and hypoxic fetal brain and washed thoroughly before carrying out the binding assay. In hypoxic brains, Bmax decreased from the normoxic control level 0.79 +/- 0.03 pmol/mg protein to 0.58 +/- 0.03 pmol/mg protein (P < 0.005) and Kd value decreased (increased affinity) from 8.54 +/- 0.27 nM to 4.01 +/- 0.23 nM (P < 0.005) respectively. The MK-801 binding in the absence of added glutamate and glycine in hypoxic brain was 100% higher as compared to controls, indicating an increased sensitivity of the NMDA receptor to activation. The spermine dependent maximum activation of the NMDA receptor increased to 44% in the hypoxic animals as compared to 25% in controls. The Mg2+ response of the NMDA receptor was not affected by hypoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

An [Na + + K +]coupled l-glutamate transporter purified from rat brain is located in glial cell processes

Polyclonal antibodies were generated against the major polypeptide (73,000 mol. wt) present in a highly purified preparation of the [Na + + K +]coupled l-glutamate transporter from rat brain. These antibodies were able to selectively immunoprecipitate the 73,000 mol. wt polypeptide as well as most of the l-glutamate transport activity—as assayed upon reconstitution—from crude detergent extracts of rat brain membranes. The immunoreactivity in the various fractions obtained during the purification procedure [Danbolt et al. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 6734–6740] closely correlated with the l-glutamate transport activity. Immunoblotting of a crude sodium dodecyl sulphate brain extract, separated by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing-sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed that the antibodies recognized one 73,000 mol. wt protein species only. Deglycosylation of the protein gave a 10,000 reduction in molecular mass, but no reduction in immunoreactivity. These findings establish that the 73,000 mol. wt polypeptide represents the l-glutamate transporter or a subunit thereof. The antibodies also recognize a 73,000 mol. wt polypeptide and immunoprecipitate l-glutamate transport activity in extracts of brain plasma membranes from rabbit, pig, cow, cat and man. Using the antibodies, the immunocytochemical localization of the transporter was studied at the light and electron microscopic levels in rat central nervous system. In all regions examined (including cerebral cortex, caudatoputamen, corpus callosum, hippocampus, cerebellum, spinal cord) it was found to be located in glial cells rather than in neurons. In particular, fine astrocytic processes were strongly stained. Putative glutamatergic axon terminals appeared non-immunoreactive. The uptake of glutamate by such terminals (for which there is strong previous evidence) therefore may be due to a subtype of glutamate transporter different from the glial transporter demonstrated by us.

A monoclonal antibody against a Na(+)-L-glutamate cotransporter from rat brain

A monoclonal mouse IgM antibody (Z8E9) was raised against the Na(+)-L-glutamate cotransporter from rat brain. In a preparation of brain plasma membrane vesicles, Z8E9 binds specifically to a polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 70,000 and inhibits Na+ gradient-dependent L-glutamate cotransport (up to 50%) in brain membrane vesicles. In the membrane vesicles, the antibody does not alter the membrane permeability for Na+ and K+ nor the Na+ gradient-dependent uptake of gamma-aminobutyric acid. Kinetic experiments showed that Z8E9 does not alter the K0.5 values for L-glutamate and Na+ activation of L-glutamate transport. However, an apparent cooperativity observed for L-glutamate activation was increased, and the Vmax of L-glutamate transport was decreased. Immunostaining of rat cerebellum identified antigenic sites of Z8E9 in Golgi epithelial cells and astrocytes (by light and electron microscopy), whereas no labeling at nerve terminals was detected. The data suggest that a component of a Na(+)-L-glutamate cotransporter subtype has been identified that is specific for glia cells in brain.

Could diet be one of the causal factors of Alzheimer's Disease?

Recent developments show that the brains of persons who have died from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have a deficiency of Essential Fatty acids in one of the principal classes of phospholipids. It is hypothesized that faulty brain cell membranes resulting from this deficiency may allow passage of an enzyme into the bilayer membrane space which cuts beta amyloid precursor proteins attached to such cells at a critical intramembrane position releasing a complete sequence of beta amyloid protein into the extracellular space. Beta amyloid protein appears to be the principal active constituent of senile plaques thought to be a probable cause of brain damage resulting in AD. Treatment of persons suffering from AD with desferrioxamine, a trivalent ion chelator to remove aluminium has shown results in slowing the progression of this disease, implicating aluminium and/or other chelated substances in its etiology. Both EFA deficiency and aluminium build-up may be prevented by dietary precautions.

Decrease in rat brain calcitonin binding sites and adenylyl-cyclase activity during ageing.

In order to investigate the effects of ageing on the cerebral receptors for calcitonin (CT), we used an in vitro autoradiographic method to study the distribution of the binding sites for eel CT (eCT) in young and old rat brain. The inhibitory action of eCT on adenylyl-cyclase (AC) activity upon isolated brain cell membranes was also evaluated. The results show area-specific reduction of binding particularly in the hypothalamus and pons medulla of the old rat. The inhibitory action of eCT on AC activity was significantly reduced in the same areas, whereas in the striatum and mesencephalon no changes were observed. The parallel decrease of binding of eCT and of the inhibitory action of eCT on AC in ageing may represent a functional decline of neuronal activities during ageing.

Superoxide radical formation and associated biochemical alterations in the plasma membrane of brain, heart, and liver during the lifetime of the rat.

Plasma membrane samples from rat brain, heart, and liver were examined for biochemical changes with age. A rise in superoxide radical (SOR) levels was followed by increases in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and decreases in membrane fluidity with age. The earliest rise in SOR formation appeared in the plasma membrane from the brain. With age, protein synthesis also decreased significantly in tissue homogenates from brain and heart but was unchanged in the liver. Exposure of plasma membrane samples to in vitro-elevated SOR levels stimulated formation of lipid peroxides, as indicated by the thiobarbituric acid test, and resulted in a decrease in membrane fluidity in each tissue and in a decline in protein synthesis in brain and heart. Changes in brain lipid peroxidation and in membrane fluidity in brain and heart as a result of SOR supplementation were further enhanced due to age. In addition, the mechanism of SOR formation was examined in plasma membrane samples from the brain. SOR generation was Ca(2+)-sensitive, blocked by superoxide dismutase or vitamin E and inhibited by both indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and bromophenacyl bromide, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor. These results show significant increases in SOR formation and biochemical alterations in plasma membranes from brain, heart, and liver in aging rats. SOR formation appears to be enzyme-mediated and elevated levels of this oxygen radical could be involved in membrane breakdown in older rats.

Effect of graded hypoxia on brain cell membrane injury in newborn piglets.

Alterations in brain cell membrane structure and function during cerebral hypoxia were investigated by measuring Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity and levels of lipid peroxidation products in brain cell membranes obtained from newborn piglets following exposure to 60 min of hypoxic hypoxia in vivo. Cerebral hypoxia was documented as a decrease in the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi) using 31P-NMR spectroscopy. During hypoxia (FiO2 0.07-0.11), PCr/Pi decreased 28-47% compared to the corresponding baseline value without a decrease in cerebral ATP levels. No change in brain cell membrane Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity was observed for changes in PCr/Pi of less than 30%. When PCr/Pi was at least 30% lower than baseline, Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity decreased linearly as a function of the decrease in PCr/Pi (r = 0.95). Levels of lipid peroxidation products (conjugated dienes and fluorescent compounds) increased significantly as PCr/Pi decreased. These data suggest that below a critical threshold value of oxidative metabolism there are progressive changes in brain cell membrane structure and function during cerebral hypoxia, and demonstrate that membrane alterations occur prior to changes in cellular ATP levels.

Brain cell membrane dysfunction following acute asphyxia in newborn piglets.

Brain cell membrane function during and following single and repeated episodes of asphyxia was investigated. Asphyxia in 24 anesthetized, paralyzed, mechanically-ventilated newborn piglets was produced by stopping ventilation for 2-3 min followed by recovery with reventilation. Measurements of cerebral Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity and of lipid peroxidation products, conjugated dienes and fluorescent compounds, were made during control (n = 12), asphyxia (n = 5), recovery after a single asphyxia event (n = 4), and recovery following 7 repeated asphyxia episodes (n = 3). Cerebral Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity remained unchanged from control during asphyxia (14.57 +/- 2.43 compared to 15.33 +/- 4.27 mumol Pi/mg protein/h, mean +/- SD), but was significantly reduced both during recovery after single (3.87 +/- 1.66) and after repeated (2.59 +/- 1.58) asphyxias, representing a 73 and 82% reduction in enzyme activity, respectively. Conjugated dienes and fluorescent compounds were similarly unchanged during asphyxia compared to control, but increased during recovery from single and from repeated episodes. Decreased cerebral Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity, simultaneous with an increase in lipid peroxidation products, reflects significant cellular membrane damage consistent with oxygen free radical formation during the recovery from acute asphyxia in the newborn piglet.

Glucose transporter expression in brain. cDNA sequence of mouse GLUT3, the brain facilitative glucose transporter isoform, and identification of sites of expression by in situ hybridization.

Complementary DNAs encoding the mouse GLUT3/brain facilitative glucose transporter have been isolated and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence indicates that mouse GLUT3 is composed of 493 amino acids and has 83 and 89% identity and similarity, respectively, to the sequence of human GLUT3. In contrast to human GLUT3 mRNA, which can be readily detected by RNA blotting in all human tissues that have been examined, mouse GLUT3 mRNA was only present at significant levels in brain. In situ hybridization showed differential expression of GLUT3 mRNA in several regions of adult mouse brain. Specific expression was observed in the hippocampus, with GLUT3 mRNA levels being higher in areas CA1 to CA3 than in the dentate gyrus. It was also detected in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum and in the cerebral cortex, with higher expression in the piriform cortex than in other regions of the cortex. Antisera to mouse GLUT3 immunoblotted a series of proteins of 45-50 kDa in mouse brain plasma membranes. These results are consistent with GLUT3 being a neuronal glucose transporter.