Plasmalogen precursor analog treatment reduces levodopa-induced dyskinesias in parkinsonian monkeys.

L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LID) remain a serious obstacle in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective of this study was to test a new target for treatment of dyskinesias, ethanolamine plasmalogens (PlsEtn). PlsEtn play critical roles in membrane structure mediated functions and as a storage depot of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, omega-3) known to reduce dyskinesias. The motor effect of a daily treatment for 12 days of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) Macaca fascicularis monkeys with DHA (100mg/kg) was compared to the DHA-PlsEtn precursor PPI-1011 (50mg/kg). PPI-1011 and DHA reduced LID while maintaining the antiparkinsonian activity of l-DOPA, however the PPI-1011 effect was observed at the first behavioral time point analyzed following drug administration (day 2) whereas the effect of DHA was not observed until after 10 days of administration. DHA treatment increased plasma DHA levels 2-3× whereas PPI-1011 had no effect. DHA and PPI-1011 increased DHA-PlsEtn levels by 1.5-2× while DHA-phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) levels remained unaffected. DHA treatment also elevated very long chain fatty acid containing PtdEtn and reduced non-DHA containing PtdEtn and PlsEtn levels. PPI-1011 had no effect on these systems. LID scores were inversely correlated with serum DHA-PlsEtn/total PlsEtn ratios levels in DHA and PPI-1011 treated monkeys. Hence, the antidyskinetic activity of DHA and PPI-1011 in MPTP monkeys appears to be associated with the increase of serum DHA-PlsEtn concentrations. This is the first study reporting an antidyskinetic response to augmentation of DHA-PlsEtn using a plasmalogen precursor thus providing a novel drug target for dyskinesias.

Membrane sensors for the selective determination of tiapride in presence of its degradation products.

The construction and electrochemical response characteristics of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane sensors for determination of tiapride in presence of its degradation products are described. The sensors are based on the ion association complexes of tiapride cation with sodium tetraphenyl borate (Tia-TPB) [sensor 1]) or ammonium reineckate (Tia-R) [sensor 2] counter anions as ion exchange sites in PVC matrix. The performance characteristics, sensitivity and selectivity of these electrodes in presence of tiapride degradation products were evaluated according to IUPAC recommendations. It reveals a fast, stable and linear response for tiapride over the concentration range 10(-5)-10(-2) M with cationic slopes of 28.997 and 30.580 mV per concentration decade with sensors 1 and 2, respectively. These sensors exhibit fast response time (20-30 s), low quantitation limit (4.5x10(-6) and 3.6x10(-6), respectively), and good stability (6-8 weeks). The direct potentiometric determination of tiapride hydrochloride using the proposed sensors gave average recoveries of 99.95+/-0.678 and 99.92+/-1.157 for sensors 1 and 2, respectively. The sensors are used for determination of tiapride hydrochloride, in pure form, in presence of its degradation products in tablets, and in plasma. Validation of the method shows suitability of the proposed sensors for use in the quality control assessment of tiapride hydrochloride and for routine analysis as stability indicating method. The developed method was found to be simple, accurate and precise when compared with a reference company spectrophotometric method.

Increased plasma concentrations of bromperidol and its reduced metabolite with levomepromazine, but not with thioridazine.

Bromperidol is a close structural analog of haloperidol. The authors studied the effects of levomepromazine and thioridazine, which are frequently added to other neuroleptics as sedatives, on plasma concentrations of bromperidol and its reduced metabolite. The subjects were 26 inpatients with schizophrenia receiving bromperidol, 12 to 24 mg/day, for 1 to 19 weeks. In 10 cases, 50 mg levomepromazine per day and in nine cases, 50 mg thioridazine per day were coadministered for 1 week. In seven cases, both drugs were coadministered with > or = 2-week intervals. Plasma concentrations of bromperidol and reduced bromperidol were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatographic method. Levomepromazine (n = 17) significantly (p < 0.001) increased plasma concentrations of bromperidol (7.3 +/- 4.1 versus 10.2 +/- 4.8 ng/ml) and reduced bromperidol (1.8 +/- 1.4 versus 4.5 +/- 3.3 ng/ml). Thioridazine (n = 16) did not significantly change plasma concentrations of bromperidol (9.1 +/- 5.7 versus 8.6 +/- 5.5 ng/ml), while those of reduced bromperidol could not be measured because of interfering peaks. The current study suggests that levomepromazine, but not thioridazine, increases plasma concentrations of bromperidol and reduced bromperidol by inhibiting the metabolism of these compounds.

Biperiden and haloperidol plasma levels and extrapyramidal side effects in schizophrenic patients.

Anticholinergic drugs such as biperiden are used for the treatment of extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) induced by neuroleptics such as haloperidol. The effects of biperiden and haloperidol plasma levels on EPS were studied in 29 chronically ill schizophrenics. The results show relationships between biperiden dose and biperiden plasma levels (BPL), and between BPL and haloperidol plasma levels (HPL). Neither BPL nor HPL seem to influence EPS.