Designing a magnesium alloy with high strength and high formability.

Although magnesium alloys, as the lightest structural alloys, offer significant potential for automotive applications, their applications remain limited due to their poor formability at room temperature. Since the strategies used for improving formability usually result in a degradation of strength, there are no high strength magnesium alloys showing good formability. Here we report an alloy design concept that can simultaneously provide high strength and good formability. Such designed alloy when subjected to an appropriate processing technique shows a combination of strength and formability that surpasses those of the existing magnesium alloys reported so far. The alloy design concept used in the present study is based on the utilization of alloying elements that can induce precipitation, as well as maximize the segregation of other texture-controlling alloying elements. Such developed alloy is expected to broaden the application of Mg alloy sheets, which are now starting to gain acceptance by automotive industries.

Early-onset Charcot-Marie-Tooth patients with mitofusin 2 mutations and brain involvement.

Mutations of the mitofusin 2 (MFN2) gene have been reported to be the most common cause of the axonal form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). A prospective brain MRI study was performed on 18 early-onset CMT patients with MFN2 mutations, and a high frequency (39%) of brain abnormalities was found. Early-onset patients showed multiple scattered or confluent brain lesions that involved gray matter as well as white matter. Patterns of brain involvement in early-onset patients differed from those of late-onset patients and other hereditary peripheral neuropathies. In addition, one CMT patient demonstrated a brain lesion before the development of peripheral neuropathy.

Management and clinical outcome of acute basilar artery dissection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There have been inconsistencies on the prognosis and controversies as to the proper management of acute basilar artery dissection. The aim of this study was to evaluate acute basilar artery dissection and its outcome after management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 patients (mean age, 53 years; range, 24-78 years) with acute basilar artery dissection were identified between January 2001 and October 2007. Clinical presentation, management, and outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 10), brain stem ischemia (n = 10), or stem compression sign (n = 1). Ruptured basilar artery dissections were treated by stent placement with coiling (n = 4), single stent placement (n = 3), or conservatively (n = 3). Of the patients treated with endovascular technique, 6 had favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS], 0-2) and the remaining patient, who was treated by single stent placement, died from rebleeding. All 3 conservatively managed patients experienced rebleeding, of whom 2 died and the other was moderately disabled. Unruptured basilar artery dissections were treated conservatively (n = 7) or by stent placement (n = 4). Of the patients with unruptured basilar artery dissection, 9 had favorable outcome and the remaining 2 patients, both of whom were conservatively managed, had poor outcome because of infarct progression. The group with the ruptured basilar artery dissection revealed a higher mortality rate than the group with the unruptured dissection (30% vs 0%). The group treated with endovascular means revealed more favorable outcome than the group that was treated with conservative measures (90.9% vs 50%). CONCLUSION: The ruptured basilar artery dissections were at high risk for rebleeding, resulting in a grave outcome. Stent placement with or without coiling may be considered to prevent rebleeding in ruptured basilar dissections and judiciously considered in unruptured dissections with signs of progressive brain stem ischemia.

Different clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features between Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A and 2A.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) is the more frequent cause of demyelinating CMT, and CMT2A is the most common cause of axonal CMT. We conducted a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study on 39 CMT1A and 21 CMT2A patients to compare their neuroimaging patterns and correlate with clinical features. CMT1A patients showed selective fatty infiltration with a preference for anterior and lateral compartment muscles, whereas CMT2A patients showed a preference for superficial posterior compartment muscles. Early-onset CMT2A patients showed more severe leg fatty atrophy than late-onset CMT2A patients. In late-onset CMT2A, soleus muscle was the earliest, and most severely affected than the other leg muscles. Selective involvement of intrinsic foot muscles is a characteristic pattern of minimal CMT1A and CMT2A. Our MRI study demonstrates different patterns of fatty infiltration involving superficial posterior compartment muscles in CMT2A (partial T-type), and peroneal nerve innervated muscles in CMT1A (P-type).

Inhibition of the EGF-induced activation of phospholipase C-gamma1 by a single chain antibody fragment.

Phospholipase C-gamma1(PLC-gamma1) is known to play an essential role in various cellular responses, such as proliferation and tumorigenesis, and PLC-gamma1-specific inhibitors are commonly employed to investigate the mechanism of the PLC-gamma1-mediated signaling pathway. In this study, we developed a single chain antibody fragment (scFv) as a blocker for PLC-gamma1 mediated signaling. scFv, designated F7-scFv, specifically bound to PLC-gamma1 with high affinity (K(d)=1.9x10(-8) M) in vitro. F7-scFv also bound to PLC-gamma1 in vivo and altered the distribution pattern of PLC-gamma1 from the cytoplasm to the intracellular aggregates, where F7-scFv was localized. Moreover, F7-scFv interrupted the EGF-induced translocation of PLC-gamma1 from the cytosol to the membrane ruffle and attenuated EGF-induced inositol phosphates generation and intracellular calcium mobilization. These results indicate that F7-scFv blocks EGF-induced PLC-gamma1 activation by causing sequestering of PLC-gamma1 into intracellular aggregates, and may therefore be useful in studies of the PLC-gamma1-mediated signaling pathway.

Potentiation of PGE(2)-mediated cAMP production during neuronal differentiation of human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)C cells.

The prostaglandin-evoked cAMP production was studied in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)C cells during neuronal differentiation induced by all-trans retinoic acid. The incubation with 5 microM all-trans retinoic acid for 4-6 days promoted neurite outgrowth of cells. After differentiation, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))-induced cAMP production was dramatically increased, whereas forskolin- and AlF-induced cAMP productions were not changed. The increase reached maximum after 4-days of incubation with all-trans retinoic acid. The differentiation caused an increase in the maximal response and a decrease in the half-maximal effective concentration of the PGE(2)-induced cAMP production. In addition, the binding of [(3)H]PGE(2) to membrane receptors was enhanced in differentiated cells. However, the order of potency of the various prostaglandins (PGE(1) = PGE(2) > PGD(2) = PGF(2alpha) = PGI(2)) in cAMP production did not change during the differentiation, suggesting that mainly E-prostanoid (EP) receptors were involved. Butaprost, an EP(2) receptor specific agonist, increased the cAMP level in a concentration dependent manner and had a similar potentiating effect on cAMP production as PGE(2) upon differentiation. Northern blot analysis using the human cDNA probes shows that the EP(2) mRNA level was about seven times higher in differentiated cells, while the dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) mRNA completely disappeared. Our results, thus, suggest that elevated gene expression of the prostanoid EP(2) receptor results in an increase in the PGE(2)-evoked cAMP production in SK-N-BE(2)C cells during neuronal differentiation.

Pharmacological characterization of adenosine receptors in PGT-beta mouse pineal gland tumour cells.

1. The adenosine receptor in mouse pinealocytes was identified and characterized using pharmacological and physiological approaches. 2. Expression of the two adenosine receptor subtypes A2B and A3 was detected in mouse pineal glands and PGT-beta cells by polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing. 3. Adenosine and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) evoked cyclic AMP generation but the A2)-selective agonist 2-(4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenylethylamino)adenosine-5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine (CGS 21680) and the A1-specific agonists R-N(6)-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (R-PIA) and N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) had little effect on intracellular cyclic AMP levels. The A2B receptor selective antagonists alloxazine and enprofylline completely blocked NECA-mediated cyclic AMP accumulation. 4. Treatment of cells with the A3-selective agonist N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)-5'-(N-methylcarbamoyl)adenosine (IB-MECA) inhibited the elevation of the cyclic AMP level induced by NECA or isoproterenol in a concentration-dependent manner with maximal inhibition of 40 - 50%. These responses were blocked by the specific A3 adenosine receptor antagonist MRS 1191. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin attenuated the IB-MECA-induced responses, suggesting that this effect occurred via the pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory G proteins. 5. IB-MECA also caused a concentration-dependent elevation in [Ca(2+)]i and IP3 content. Both the responses induced by IB-MECA were attenuated by treatment with U73122 or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. 6. These data suggest the presence of both A2B and A3 adenosine receptors in mouse pineal tumour cells and that the A2B receptor is positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase whereas the A3 receptor is negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase and also coupled to phospholipase C.

Inhibition of H2 histamine receptor-mediated cation channel opening by protein kinase C in human promyelocytic cells.

Histamine, through H(2) receptors, triggers a prominent rise in intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in addition to an elevation of cAMP level in HL-60 promyelocytes. Here we show that the histamine-induced [Ca(2+)](i) rise was due to influx of Ca(2+) from the extracellular space, probably through nonselective cation channels, as incubation of the cells with SKF 96365 abolished the histamine-induced [Ca(2+)](i) rise, Na(+) influx, and membrane depolarization. The Ca(2+) influx was specifically inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with PMA or extracellular ATP with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 0.12 +/- 0.03 nM and 185 +/- 17 microM, respectively. Western blot analysis of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms revealed that PMA (< or =1 nM) and ATP (300 microM) caused selective translocation of PKC-delta to the particulate/membrane fraction. Costimulation of the cells with histamine and SKF 96365 partially reduced histamine-induced granulocytic differentiation, which was evaluated by looking at the extent of fMet-Leu-Phe-induced [Ca(2+)](i) rise and superoxide generation. In conclusion, nonselective cation channels are opened by stimulation of the H(2) receptor, and the channels are at least in part involved in the induction of histamine-mediated differentiation processes. Both effects of histamine were selectively inhibited probably by the delta isoform of PKC in HL-60 cells.

Selective inhibition of beta(2)-adrenergic receptor-mediated cAMP generation by activation of the P2Y(2) receptor in mouse pineal gland tumor cells.

Rhythmic noradrenergic signaling from the hypothalamic clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus to the pineal gland causes an increase in intracellular cAMP which regulates the circadian fluctuation of melatonin synthesis. The activation of phospholipase C (PLC)-coupled P2Y(2) receptors upon treatment with ATP and UTP exclusively inhibited the isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production in mouse pineal gland tumor cells. However, the activation of other PLC-coupled receptors including P2Y(1) and bombesin receptors had little or no effect on the isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production. Also, ATP did not inhibit cAMP production caused by forskolin, prostaglandin E(2), or the adenosine analog NECA. These results suggest a selective coupling between signalings of P2Y(2) and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors. The binding of [(3)H]CGP12177 to beta(2)-adrenergic receptors was not effected by the presence of ATP or UTP. Ionomycin decreased the isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production, whereas phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate slightly potentiated the isoproterenol response. Chelation of intracellular Ca(2+), however, had little effect on the ATP-induced inhibition of cAMP production, while it completely reversed the ionomycin-induced inhibition. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin almost completely blocked the inhibitory effect of nucleotides. Pertussis toxin also inhibited the nucleotide-induced increase in intracellular Ca(2+) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production by 30-40%, suggesting that the ATP-mediated inhibition of the cAMP generation and the partial activation of PLC are mediated by pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i)-protein. We conclude that one of the functions of P2Y(2) receptors on the pineal gland is the selective inhibition of beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated signaling pathways via the inhibitory G-proteins.

P2X7 nucleotide receptor mediation of membrane pore formation and superoxide generation in human promyelocytes and neutrophils.

The P2X(7) receptor, which induces cation channel opening imparting significant permeability to Ca2+ and pore formation with changes in the plasma membrane potential, has been known to be rather restrictedly expressed in cells of the macrophage lineage including dendrites, mature macrophages, and microglial cells. However, we show here that the P2X(7) receptor is also expressed in cells of granulocytic lineage such as HL-60 promyelocytes, granulocytic differentiated cells, and neutrophils. Exposure of these cells to 2',3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl-ATP (BzATP) triggered intracellular Ca2+ rise through the mediation of phospholipase C-independent and suramin-sensitive pathways. BzATP also induced depolarization of the plasma membrane in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, whereas it hyperpolarized the cells in the presence of external Ca2+, probably in part through the activation of Ca2+-activated K(+) channels. However, the hyperpolarization phenomenon was markedly attenuated in differentiated HL-60 cells and neutrophils. RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of P2X(7) receptors on both HL-60 and neutrophil-like cells. This was further confirmed by pore formation through which the uptake of Lucifer yellow and YO-PRO1 occurred on BzATP treatment. BzATP stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner the production of superoxide in differentiated HL-60 cells via a pathway partially dependent on extracellular Ca2+. Moreover, in human neutrophils, BzATP was a more effective inducer of superoxide generation than PMA. Taken together, this is a first demonstration of the expression of P2X(7) receptors on neutrophils, which shows that the receptor is functionally involved in the defense mechanism by activation of the respiratory burst pathway.

Modulation of H2 histamine receptor-mediated cAMP generation and granulocytic differentiation by extracellular nucleotides via activation of protein kinase C.

Extracellular ATP exerts a variety of biological actions through several kinds of P2 receptor in HL-60 promyelocytes. We show that stimulation of P2Y2 receptors with ATP and analogs resulted in the inhibition of a subsequently histamine-induced cAMP production and functional differentiation. Treatment of the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also blocked the histamine-mediated cAMP generation just as ATP did. Incubation of the cells with the protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (GF109203X) abolished the inhibitory effects of extracellular nucleotides, suggesting that protein kinase C may act as an inter-regulator between two receptors. However, ATP did not affect the binding affinity or total binding of [3H]histamine to membrane receptors; it also did not heterologously desensitize H2 receptors. The ATP treatment synergistically elevated the cAMP levels induced directly by forskolin or indirectly by G protein activation after cholera toxin treatment. This indicates that the site of the protein kinase C action is not the G protein or effector enzyme. Co-stimulation of the cells with nucleotides and histamine inhibited histamine-mediated granulocytic differentiation, which was evaluated by looking at the extent of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine responses. Taken together, the results demonstrate that extracellular nucleotides are negatively involved in the modulation of histamine signaling via activation of protein kinase C, probably by inhibiting coupling between receptor and G protein.

Differential regulation of P2Y(11) receptor-mediated signalling to phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase by protein kinase C in HL-60 promyelocytes.

The regulatory mode of the P2Y(11) purinoceptor-mediated signalling cascades towards phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase was studied in HL-60 promyelocytes. Treatment with the potent P2Y(11) receptor activator dATP evoked an elevated intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) production that was sustained for longer than 30 min. However, the dATP-induced responses were significantly inhibited by the activation of protein kinase C after a short exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). dATP also potently stimulated cyclic AMP production with half maximum effect seen at 23+/-7 microM dATP. In addition, a 5-min pretreatment with PMA enhanced the dATP-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. PMA potentiated the cyclic AMP production when adenylyl cyclase was activated directly by forskolin or indirectly by G protein activation after cholera toxin treatment. dATP also enhanced the forskolin-mediated cyclic AMP generation. Treatment of the cells with 10 microM U-73122, which almost completely blocked the dATP-stimulated IP(3) production and [Ca(2+)](i) rise, had no effect on cyclic AMP accumulation, while 10 microM 9-(tetrahydro-2-furyl)adenine (SQ 22536), which inhibited the adenylyl cyclase activation, did not effect the dATP-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover. Taken together, the results indicate that P2Y(11) receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase occurs through independent pathways and is differentially regulated by protein kinase C in HL-60 cells.

Differential stereoselectivity of D- and L-myo-inositol 1,2,4, 5-tetrakisphosphate binding to the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and 3-kinase.

D- and L-myo-inositol 1,2,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4)) were investigated for their ability to bind to the D-myo-inositol 1, 4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P(3)) receptor in a bovine adrenal cortical membrane fraction, to mobilize intracellular Ca(2+) stores in Xenopus oocytes, and to bind to the rat brain Ins(1,4,5)P(3) 3-kinase overexpressed and purified in E. coli. In competitive binding experiments with the Ins(1,4,5)P(3) receptor, D-Ins(1,2,4, 5)P(4) effectively displaced [(3)H]Ins(1,4,5)P(3) in a concentration-dependent manner with a potency comparable to that of D-Ins(1,4,5)P(3), while L-Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4) was approximately 50-fold less effective than D-Ins(1,4,5)P(3) and D-Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4). The DL-Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4) racemate bound to the Ins(1,4,5)P(3) receptor with an apparent intermediate efficiency. Injection of D-Ins(1,2,4, 5)P(4) into oocytes evoked a chloride current dependent on intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization in which the agonists ranked in a similar order of potency as in the Ins(1,4,5)P(3) receptor binding. On the other hand, D-Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4) only inhibited the binding of [(3)H]Ins(1,4,5)P(3) to 3-kinase very weakly with a markedly reduced potency compared to D-Ins(1,4,5)P(3), indicating that D-Ins(1,2,4, 5)P(4) is not an effective competitor in the phosphorylation of [(3)H]-Ins(1,4,5)P(3) by 3-kinase. The results, therefore, clearly indicate that D-Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4) is as effective as D-Ins(1,4,5)P(3) in the binding to the receptor but not 3-kinase, and access of Ins(1, 2,4,5)P(4) over the Ins(1,4,5)P(3) receptor calls for stringent stereospecificity with D-Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4) being the active form in DL-Ins(1,2,4,5)P(4)-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization.

Pure homonymous hemianopia due to anterior choroidal artery territory infarction.

The most consistently observed neurological deficits in the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) territory infarction are pure motor or sensorimotor syndromes. Visual field defects and higher cortical dysfunction are occasionally accompanied, but pure homonymous hemianopia without motor and sensory symptom has never been reported yet. We present 2 patients with pure homonymous hemianopia, whose MRI disclosed cerebral infarction in the well-known territory of the AChA. In most patients with ischemic stroke, pure homonymous hemianopia indicates infarction in the posterior circulation, particularly in the posterior cerebral artery territory. However, the present cases provide evidence that it can also be caused by infarction in the anterior circulation, i.e. the AChA.

Chlorpromazine-induced inhibition of catecholamine secretion by a differential blockade of nicotinic receptors and L-type Ca2+ channels in rat pheochromocytoma cells.

We investigated the effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ), a phenothiazine neuroleptic, on catecholamine secretion in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. CPZ inhibited [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) secretion induced by 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP), an agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) with an IC50 value of 1.0 +/- 0.2 microM. The DMPP-induced rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i was inhibited by CPZ with an IC50 of 1.9 +/- 0.1 microM. The DMPP-induced increase in cytosolic free Na+ concentration [Na+]i was also inhibited by CPZ with a similar potency. Furthermore, the binding of [3H]nicotine to PC12 cells was inhibited by CPZ with an IC50 value of 2.7 +/- 0.6 microM, suggesting that the nAChRs themselves are inhibited by CPZ. In addition, both 70 mM K+-induced [3H]NE secretion and [Ca2+]i increase were inhibited by CPZ with IC50 of 7.9 +/- 1.1 and 6.2 +/- 0.3 microM, respectively. Experiments with Ca2+ channel antagonists suggest that L-type Ca2+ channels are mainly responsible for the inhibition. We conclude that CPZ inhibits catecholamine secretion by blocking nAChRs and L-type Ca2+ channels, with the former being more sensitive to CPZ.

Synthesis and biological studies of catechol ether type derivatives as potential phosphodiesterase (PDE) IV inhibitors.

New series of catechol ether type derivatives 5, 6 have been synthesized and applied to biological tests. Even though it is a preliminary data, some of our target molecules show the promising result against PDE IV inhibition. SAR and biological studies with synthetic compounds will be discussed in detail.

Pharmacological characterization of beta2-adrenoceptor in PGT-beta mouse pineal gland tumour cells.

1. The adrenoceptor in a mouse pineal gland tumour cell line (PGT-beta) was identified and characterized using pharmacological and physiological approaches. 2. Adrenaline and noradrenaline, adrenoceptor agonists, stimulated cyclic AMP generation in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no effect on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production. Adrenaline was a more potent activator of cyclic AMP generation than noradrenaline, with half maximal-effective concentrations (EC50) seen at 175+/-22 nM and 18+/-2 microM for adrenaline and noradrenaline, respectively. 3. The addition of forskolin synergistically stimulated the adrenaline-mediated cyclic AMP generation in a concentration-dependent manner. 4. The pA2 value for the specific beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist ICI-118,551 (8.7+/-0.4) as an antagonist of the adrenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP generation were 3 units higher than the value for the betaI-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol (5.6+/-0.3). 5. Treatment of the cells with adrenaline and forskolin evoked a 3 fold increase in the activity of serotonin N-acetyltransferase with the peak occurring 6 h after stimulation. 6. These results suggest the presence of beta2-adrenoceptors in mouse pineal cells and a functional relationship between the adenylyl cyclase system and the regulation of N-acetyltransferase expression.

Characterization of Mas-7-induced pore formation in SK-N-BE(2)C human neuroblastoma cells.

Mastoparan, a peptide toxin from wasp venome, mimics receptors by stimulating the GTPase activity of guanine nucleotide binding proteins and the G-protein-coupled phospholipase C (PLC). By using Mas-7, the active analog of mastoparan, we showed that it makes pores in the plasma membrane. Treatment with Mas-7 but not Mas-17, the inactive analog, produced a concentration-dependent rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and facilitated the uptake of ethidium bromide (EtBr) (314 Da) to a sustained level during the stimulation. In addition, Mas-7 triggered the influx of lucifer yellow (457 Da), while it did not induce the influx of fura-2 (831 Da) and Evans blue (961 Da). However, the Mas-7-induced permeability was selectively prevented by the addition of La3+, Ni2+, and Co2+, but not Cd2+. This blocking activity was concentration-dependent. While the stimulatory effect of Mas-7 on PLC activity was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, the pore forming activity of Mas-7 was not effected by removal of extracellular Ca2+. These results, therefore, suggest that the mastoparan's action in pore formation is independent from its action in PLC stimulation and is negatively effected by inorganic cations.

Differential inhibition of catecholamine secretion by amitriptyline through blockage of nicotinic receptors, sodium channels, and calcium channels in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

We investigated the effects of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, on [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) secretion and ion flux in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Amitriptyline inhibited [3H]NE secretion induced by 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP) and 70 mM K+. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 2 microM and 9 microM, respectively. Amitriptyline also inhibited the elevation of cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) induced by DMPP and 70 mM K+ with IC50 values of 1.1 microM and 35 microM, respectively. The rises in cytosolic sodium ([Na+]i) and [Ca2+]i induced by the Na+ channel activator veratridine were also inhibited by amitriptyline with IC50 values of 7 microM and 30 microM, respectively. These results suggest that amitriptyline at micromolar concentrations inhibits both voltage-sensitive calcium (VSCCs) and sodium channels (VSSCs). Furthermore, submicromolar concentrations of amitriptyline significantly inhibited DMPP-induced [3H]NE secretion and [Ca2+]i rise, but not veratridine- or 70 mM K+-induced responses, suggesting that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) as well as VSCCs and VSSCs can be targeted by amitriptyline. DMPP-induced [Na+]i rise was much more sensitive to amitriptyline than the veratridine-induced rise, suggesting that the influx of Na+ and Ca2+, through the nAChR itself is blocked by amitriptyline. Receptor binding competition analysis showed that binding of [3H]nicotine to chromaffin cells was significantly affected by amitriptyline at submicromolar concentrations. The data suggest that amitriptyline inhibits catecholamine secretion by blocking nAChR, VSSC, and VSCC.

Syntheses of D- and L-myo-inositol 1,2,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and stereoselectivity of the I(1,4,5)P3 receptor binding.

D- and L-myo-Inositol 1,2,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [D- & L-I(1,2,4,5)P4], which are analogues of D-myo-Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [D-I(1,4,5)P3], a calcium mobilizing second messenger, were synthesized via resolution of the camphanate ester of a myo-inositol derivative, and the binding affinities to I(1,4,5)P3 receptor were measured.