A functional interaction between GABA and 5-HT in inhibiting picrotoxin-induced myoclonus in rats.

Pretreatment with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a precursor of 5-HT, antagonised while pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), a 5-HT depletor, potentiated the myoclonus induced by picrotoxin, a GABA antagonist. Pretreatment with aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), a GABA transaminase inhibitor, antagonised picrotoxin-induced myoclonus. The combined effect of the least protective doses of AOAA and 5-HTP was greater than the sum of their individual inhibitory effects on picrotoxin-induced myoclonus. Further, AOAA failed to inhibit picrotoxin-induced myoclonus in PCPA pretreated rats. These findings suggest that the central 5-HT-ergic system exerts a facilitatory influence on the GABA-ergic system and thus it is involved in the antimyoclonic action of GABA.

The effect of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists alone and in combination with a GABA-elevating agent on isoniazid-induced convulsions in rats.

A delay in the onset of isoniazid-induced convulsions was found in rats pretreated with the beta 2-adrenoceptor blocker, butoxamine and the nonspecific beta-blocker, propranolol. In these animals the convulsive responses were inhibited in a dose dependent manner. These compounds were found to be effective even after the induction of convulsions. The beta 1-blocker, acebutolol was able to protect rats only when injected prior to the challenge. The anticonvulsant effect of acebutolol and propranolol but not that of butoxamine was found to be enhanced in animals pretreated with a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) elevating agent, aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA). The findings indicate that the GABA-mediated anticonvulsant action of AOAA seems to be additive with that resulting from beta 1 but not beta 2-blockade.

Inhibition of the glucagon induced incorporation of orthophosphate into the liver by gluconeogenic blockers

Hígados aislados de ratas alimentadas, fueron perfundidos con un medio preparado a partir de solución KRB a la cual se añadieron: seroalbúmina bovina, 3g/dl; glucosa, 90 mg/dl; ortofosfato para obtener una concentración en el plasma de 1 mg/dl; 18 por ciento de glóbulos rojos de rata lavados; pH, 7.40, fase gaseosa O2 95%-CO2 5%. Flujo 36 ml/min. Temperatura, 37-C. Volumen del perfusado 70 ml. 0,5 micronCi de 32P-ortofosfato por ml. fueron añadidos al perfusado diez minutos antes de montar el hígado: el tiempo, 15 minutos después de montar el órgano, se tomó como punto cero. En los experimentos en los cuales se emplearon los bloqueadores de la neoglucogénesis ( quinolinato 1,68 mM o aminoóxi-acetato 0.2 mM) éstos fueron añadidos al perfusado al tiempo 15 min. el glucagon, cuando fue administrado, se empleó en inyección continua entre 45 y 90 min. (20 microngm). Se tomaron muestras cada 15 minutos hasta 120 minutos, que se recogieron en tubos enfriados en hielo. Glucosa en el perfusado, Pi en el plasma, 32Pi en perfusado y actividad específica del Pi plasmático fueron los parámetros determinados. Se calcularon Deltas a partir de 45 min. Los valores de glucosa y de Pi plasmático se corrigieron a partir de blancos obtenidos, haciendo circular el perfusado en ausencia del hígado y los resultados se expresaron por 10g de hígado fresco