The genetically epilepsy-prone rat. A valuable model for the study of the epilepsies.

In order to develop a rational clinical treatment for any pathological state, the molecular bases for that state must be understood. As simple and logical as that statement appears, it remains the major obstacle to effective treatment of the family of neurological disorders collectively called the epilepsies. Under the term, the epilepsies are grouped as several types of seizure processes that undoubtedly have multiple pathophysiological causes. Thus, the search to elucidate the molecular bases for the epilepsies has as one of its fundamental components the careful selection of an appropriate model system. The search for an "ideal" seizure model has essentially followed two paths. In the first, animals are rendered "epileptic" by artificial methods and then the pathophysiological, electrophysiological, and pharmacological changes are evaluated. In the second, animals are developed with a genetic predisposition to seizures and used to evaluate the molecular bases for the seizure-prone state. Work using both types of models have provided valuable information about the epileptic state. This review describes an epilepsy model developed using the second approach, namely, the Genetically Epilepsy-Prone Rat (GEPR). These animals represent a valuable model for the study of the inborn neurological defect that predisposes these animals to seizures. A brief description of the work done in several laboratories characterizing the model is presented. Finally, the value of the GEPR as a model for studying the pathophysiology of the epilepsies will be described.

Postnatal development of glutamatergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic neurotransmitter phenotypes in the visual cortex, lateral geniculate nucleus, pulvinar, and superior colliculus in cats.

We have analyzed the postnatal development of glutamatergic/aspartergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic neurotransmitter systems in the visual cortical Areas 17 and 18, lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), pulvinar, and the visual and non-visual parts of superior colliculus (SC) in kittens. High-affinity uptake of D-aspartate (HA D-Asp), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities were measured as a means of probing the development of the respective transmitter systems. HA D-Asp exceeded the adult level several-fold in all areas during the postnatal period which corresponded with the period of maximal dendritic/axonal branching patterns and synapse densities in the respective regions. GAD exhibited a gradual increase towards adult levels during the first month. The adult level was reached during postnatal week (PNW) 5-6 in Areas 17 and 18, during PNW3 within LGN, pulvinar, and the visual part of SC. In the nonvisual part of SC, the adult GAD level was reached as early as PNW2. ChAT exhibited biphasic developmental profiles in Areas 17 and 18. An initial peak of near adultlike activity in PNW2 was followed by a decline and subsequently by a slow increase towards adult levels during PNW5-17. ChAT developed very slowly in LGN and pulvinar, and in the latter structure only approximately 70% of the adult activity had been attained by PNW17. In both subdivisions of SC, ChAT had reached adult levels during PNW3-5. Dark-rearing from birth until PNW6 moderately attenuated GAD development in all areas and increased ChAT activity in Areas 17 and 18 but did not affect development of HA D-Asp in any part of the kitten visual system. Our neurochemical findings in the developing cat visual system are consistent with available evidence regarding localization of neurotransmitter systems, as well as postnatal changes in terms of cytoarchitectonics, synaptogenesis, functional development, and susceptibility to neonatal dark-rearing in visual pathways.

Cholinergic regulation of protein III phosphorylation in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

Protein IIIa (Mr approximately 74,000) and protein IIIb (Mr approximately 55,000), referred to collectively as protein III, are synaptic vesicle-associated phosphoproteins found in all regions of the rat nervous system and in the rat adrenal medulla. In the present study, the presence of protein III and the regulation of its phosphorylation were examined in chromaffin cells isolated from bovine adrenal medullae. Protein III was present in chromaffin cells isolated and purified from bovine adrenal medullae. The levels of protein III were moderately enriched in purified chromaffin cells compared with whole adrenal medullae. Preincubation of chromaffin cells with 32PO4 led to the endogenous phosphorylation of protein III, and phosphopeptide maps of chromaffin cell protein III were similar to those of protein III from bovine cerebral cortex. Treatment of the chromaffin cells with ACh produced calcium-dependent increases in both the phosphorylation of protein III and the release of 3H-norepinephrine. These effects of ACh were mimicked by nicotine but not by muscarine. Other secretagogues (elevated K+, veratridine, Ba2+) also increased both the phosphorylation of protein III and the release of 3H-norepinephrine. However, detailed characterization of the secretagogue-induced increases in protein III phosphorylation and 3H-norepinephrine secretion suggested that protein III phosphorylation was more directly associated with an increase in intracellular calcium than with secretion per se.

Sinoaortic denervation: serotonergic and cholinergic participation

This review describes the role of serotonergic and cholinergic pathways in blood pressure relagulation after sinoaortic denervation of rats. The changes observed in serotonergic activity were related to the development and/or the maintenance of neurogenic hypertension. The data indicate that baroreceptor deafferentation could affect the peripheral parasympathetic tone which regulates heart rate. Moreover, there is evidence that brain cholinergic neurons may be involved in the process of neurogenic hypertension produced by sinoaortic denervation

Sinoaortic denervation: serotonergic and cholinergic participation.

1. This review describes the role of serotonergic and cholinergic pathways in blood pressure regulation after sinoaortic denervation of rats. 2. The changes observed in serotonergic activity were related to the development and/or the maintenance of neurogenic hypertension. 3. The data indicate that baroreceptor deafferentation could affect the peripheral parasympathetic tone which regulates heart rate. 4. Moreover, there is evidence that brain cholinergic neurons may be involved in the process of neurogenic hypertension produced by sinoaortic denervation.

Activation of the primary kinetic modes of large- and small-conductance cholinergic ion channels in Xenopus myocytes.

1. The kinetic properties of single acetylcholine (ACh)-activated ion channels in tissue-cultured Xenopus myocytes have been examined in cell-attached patches. The rates of agonist binding and channel gating were inferred from the durations of open and closed intervals from channels exposed to 40 nM-200 microM-ACh. The predominant kinetic forms of large- (gamma 60) and small-conductance (gamma 40) cholinergic channels were compared. 2. At high [ACh], bursts were defined so that they primarily reflect sojourns in activatable states. The probability that a channel is open within a burst (Po) increases between 2 and 200 microM-ACh. Po is half-maximal at approximately 5 microM for gamma 40 channels and at approximately 25 microM for gamma 60 channels. 3. Open interval durations for gamma 40 channels are distributed as the sum of two exponentials, with the slow component (tau approximately 2.8 ms) accounting for greater than 80% of the total. Open interval durations for gamma 60 channels are often distributed as a single exponential with an apparent time constant of approximately 0.8 ms. For both conductance forms of channel, open interval durations show no significant dependence on [ACh] in the range 0.04-10 microM, but decrease at higher [ACh] in a manner consistent with channel block by agonist molecules. 4. Closed interval durations within bursts (2-100 microM-ACh) for gamma 60 or gamma 40 channels are described by the sum of two or three exponentials. For both conductance forms of channel the apparent time constant of the fastest component is approximately 40 microseconds and does not change significantly with [ACh], and the time constant of the predominant, slowest component (tau slow) decreases with increasing [ACh]. 5. For gamma 40 channels, at high [ACh] tau slow saturates at approximately 0.17 ms, while no saturation is apparent for gamma 60 channel tau slow values up to 200 microM-ACh. Below 50 microM-ACh, gamma 40 tau slow values are approximately 1.5 times shorter than gamma 60 values. 6. Estimates of rate constants for agonist binding and channel gating were obtained by fitting closed interval durations in the range 2-100 microM-ACh. Gamma 60 channels have a greater than 5-fold faster opening rate, approximately 10-fold faster closing rate, and approximately 3-fold lower affinity than do gamma 40 channels. There is some indication of positive co-operativity of ACh binding to gamma 40 channels.

Cholinergic cerebral vasodilator effect of ketamine in rabbits.

To analyze the mechanism of the cerebral vasodilator effect of ketamine in anesthetized rabbits, we measured the internal carotid blood flow with an electromagnetic flowmeter, the arterial pressure, intracranial pressure, end-tidal CO2, and the electroencephalogram. Ketamine injection (1 mg/kg) induced a significant cerebral vasodilatation that was blocked by scopolamine, a cholinergic antagonist. In contrast, the increase in cerebral blood flow after ketamine was additive to the cerebral vasodilator actions of inhaled CO2 and of physostigmine infusion, two procedures that activate cholinergic mechanisms. These observations suggest that in rabbits, ketamine activates a cholinergic cerebral vasodilator system.

Observations on the muscarinic activation of catecholamine secretion in the chicken adrenal.

Cells were isolated by collagenase digestion of chicken adrenal glands. Catecholamine secretion could be stimulated by acetylcholine, carbamylcholine, potassium or veratridine. Methacholine, muscarine and oxotremorine were also effective secretagogues whereas nicotine was not. Secretion evoked by acetylcholine was blocked by low concentrations of atropine but was relatively insensitive to hexamethonium. Atropine-sensitive secretion required both external sodium and calcium, was unaffected by tetrodotoxin, blocked by methoxy verapamil and nifedipine, and potentiated by BAY-K-8644. These data suggest that muscarinic activation of these cells facilitates tetrodotoxin insensitive depolarization, thereby opening conventional voltage-sensitive calcium channels. The mechanism by which calcium activates catecholamine secretion was investigated in cells that had been made permeable by exposure to brief intense electric fields. Catecholamine release required Mg-adenosine 5' triphosphate, was half-maximally activated by 1 microM Ca2+ and could be inhibited by high concentrations of Mg2+. At low Ca2+ concentrations, release was potentiated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, dioctanoylglycerol, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) and 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate, all of which increased the apparent affinity of exocytosis for Ca2+.

Basal forebrain neurons projecting to the rat frontoparietal cortex: electrophysiological and pharmacological properties.

Neurons located in the ventromedial globus pallidus (nucleus basalis) and substantia innominata, that were antidromically driven by electrical stimulation of the frontoparietal cortex, were recorded in the urethane anesthetized rat. The basalocortical neurons (BCNs) were antidromically driven with latencies of 1.1-13.5 ms, giving conduction velocities of 0.6-6.8 m/s. Many BCNs had regular patterns of spontaneous discharge (mean spontaneous activity: 20 impulses/s). Most BCNs were not responsive to non-noxious peripheral somatic stimulation. BCNs were readily excited by the iontophoretic application of glutamate and strongly inhibited by GABA. Eighty-five percent of the BCNs could be excited by acetylcholine. They could also be excited by cholinergic agonists. Muscarinic agonists excited a higher proportion of BCNs than nicotinic agonists. Excitatory responses to acetylcholine, carbachol and muscarinic agonists were abolished by atropine.

[Incidence and characteristics of involuntary movements appearing spontaneously in the elderly]. / Incidência e características dos movimentos involuntários que espontaneamente surgem em indivíduos idosos.

Involuntary repetitive movements in which several muscle groups are involved are described in connection with several mental and physical syndromes. In this study those occurring in the elderly, when age seems solely to be influencing, are focalized. We found that 36.36% of the residents in an old people home had those symptoms. They were mostly buccolinguomasticatory, less intense but similar to those found in tardive dyskinetic patients. There was a tendency of increasing their incidence with age and sometimes they appeared together with other extrapyramidal manifestations such as parkinsonism. The possibility and importance of lack of balance between dopaminergic and cholinergic systems to explain those symptoms are discussed.

Central mechanisms of fever.

The possible role of various potential chemical mediators in the production of fever is reviewed. A major problem in this field is the very considerable conflict of evidence, let alone interpretation. On the existing evidence, it appears unlikely that monoamines, acetyl choline, or alterations in relative concentrations of sodium and calcium play any major role in the production of fever. Recent evidence makes it unlikely that prostaglandins have a direct role in this mechanism, though the involvement of other metabolites of arachidonic acid has not been excluded. It is possible that protein synthesis may play a part in the central action of leukocyte pyrogen.