Gellan gum and its methacrylated derivatives as in situ gelling mucoadhesive formulations of pilocarpine: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Gellan gum was chemically modified by the reaction with methacrylic anhydride to produce derivatives with 6, 14 and 49% methacrylation. The structure and substitution degrees of these derivatives were confirmed by 1H NMR- and FTIR-spectroscopy. These derivatives are more hydrophobic compared to pristine gellan and form turbid solutions in water. In vitro study performed with formulations of sodium fluorescein containing gellan gum and its methacrylated derivatives indicated that methacrylation enhances their retention on bovine conjunctival mucosa. In vivo experiments with the formulations of pilocarpine hydrochloride containing gellan gum and methacrylated derivatives have demonstrated that all polymers enhance the drug effect significantly, but best performance is observed for the polysaccharide with 6% methacrylation.

A Novel Phytantriol-Based Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Gel for Efficient Ophthalmic Delivery of Pilocarpine Nitrate.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the potential of liquid crystalline (LC) gels for ophthalmic delivery, so as to enhance the bioavailability of pilocarpine nitrate (PN). The gels were prepared by a vortex method using phytantriol and water (in the ratio of 73:27 w/w). Their inner structures were confirmed by crossed polarized light microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and rheology. The in vitro release studies revealed that PN could keep sustained release from the gels over a period of 12 h. The ex vivo apparent permeability coefficient of the gels demonstrated a 3.83-folds (P < 0.05) increase compared with that of eye drops. The corneal hydration levels of the gel maintained in the normal range of 79.46 ± 2.82%, hinting that the gel could be considered non-damaging and safe to the eyes. Furthermore, in vivo residence time evaluation suggested that a better retention performance of LC gel was observed in rabbit's eyes compared to eye drops. In vivo ocular irritation study indicated that LC gel was nonirritant and might be suitable for various eye applications. In conclusion, LC gels might represent a potential ophthalmic delivery strategy to overcome the limitations of eye drops.

Relative Antagonism of Mutants of the CGRP Receptor Extracellular Loop 2 Domain (ECL2) Using a Truncated Competitive Antagonist (CGRP8-37): Evidence for the Dual Involvement of ECL2 in the Two-Domain Binding Model.

The second extracellular loop (ECL2) of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family is important for ligand interaction and drug discovery. ECL2 of the family B cardioprotective calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is required for cell signaling. Family B GPCR ligands have two regions; the N-terminus mediates receptor activation, and the remainder confers high-affinity binding. Comparing antagonism of CGRP8-37 at a number of point mutations of ECL2 of the CGRP receptor, we show that the ECL2 potentially facilitates interaction with up to the 18 N-terminal residues of CGRP. This has implications for understanding family B GPCR activation and for drug design at the CGRP receptor.

Neurogenic calcitonin gene-related peptide: a neurotrophic factor in the maintenance of acetylcholinesterase molecular forms in adult skeletal muscles.

This work addresses the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the physiological maintenance of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular forms in motor endplate regions of adult Sprague-Dawley rat fast-twitch anterior gracilis muscles. Results show that: (a) CGRP is present in obturator nerve motor neurons which supply the gracilis muscle, as well as in the corresponding motor endplate regions where high levels of both AChE activity and acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are detected; (b) endplate-associated CGRP declines with muscle denervation several hours before any changes in AChE forms are detected; (c) a single subcutaneous injection of CGRP reversibly reduces the activities of all AChE forms in endplate regions of normally innervated and otherwise untreated gracilis muscles; and (d) similar treatment with hCGRP(8-37), a potent and selective CGRP antagonist, produces the opposite effects, i.e., it reversibly elevates the activities of all AChE forms. These and other findings indicate that CGRP and hCGRP(8-37) influence the mechanism(s) by which AChE forms are maintained in intact adult gracilis muscles. Indeed, the findings lend strong support to the hypothesis that nerve-derived CGRP plays a key role in the trophic regulation of AChE forms at the neuromuscular junction.

Affinity of the miotic drug, dapiprazole, at alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes A, B and D.

The functional affinities of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, dapiprazole, currently being used to reverse diagnostic pupillary dilation, were determined at subtype A in rat vas deferens, at subtype B in guinea-pig spleen and at subtype D in rat aorta and compared with various alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype-discriminating antagonists. Dapiprazole had relatively high affinity both at rat vas deferens alpha 1A-adrenoceptors (pA2 = 7.93) and at rat aortic alpha 1D-adrenoceptors (pA2 = 8.26), whereas its affinity at guinea-pig splenic alpha 1B-adrenoceptors (pA2 = 7.13) was lower. The reference antagonists, 5-methylurapidil and the 5-methylurapidil/flesinoxan hybrid, B8805-033 ((+/-)- 1,3,5-trimethyl-6[[3[4(2(2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxymethyl)-1,4-benzodioxin -5-yl)-1-piperazinyl]propyl]-amino]2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione), were 40- and 1500-fold selective for the A subtype, whereas spiperone and BMY 7378 (8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1- piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4,5]decane-7,9-dione diHCI) were confirmed as selective for the B and D subtypes of alpha 1-adrenoceptors, respectively. Thus, in functional experiments dapiprazole seems to be moderately selective (approximately 10-fold) for the A and D over the B subtype of alpha 1-adrenoceptors; the possible therapeutic consequence of this is discussed.

Differential effects of guanine nucleotides on [125I]-hCGRP(8-37) binding to porcine lung and human neuroblastoma cell membranes.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) mediates its effects by binding to specific receptors which are positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase. CGRP(8-37), a CGRP fragment devoid of the N-terminal region, was shown to be a competitive CGRP receptor antagonist. Only a limited amount of data exists on the usefulness of this ligand in studying CGRP receptors. In the present study, we used [125I]-hCGRP(8-37) to characterize CGRP receptors in porcine lung and human neuroblastoma cell (SK-N-MC) membranes. [125I]-hCGRP(8-37) displayed specific and high affinity binding in both membrane preparations. Displacement studies using [125I]-hCGRP(8-37) and the agonist CGRP revealed the presence of high and low affinity CGRP binding sites in SK-N-MC cell and porcine lung membranes. Addition of guanylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] shifted the competition curve to the right and changed the two affinity states of the receptor to a single affinity in SK-N-MC cell membranes. On the other hand, in porcine lung membranes, the whole competition curve was shifted to the right while maintaining the two affinity states. Thus, our data indicate that the new radioligand [125I]-hCGRP(8-37) is a useful tool for characterizing CGRP receptors and their coupling to guanine nucleotide binding proteins.

A single amino acid substitution, Gly117His, confers phosphotriesterase (organophosphorus acid anhydride hydrolase) activity on human butyrylcholinesterase.

The G117H mutant of human butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Substitution of Gly 117 with His to make the G117H mutant endowed butyrylcholinesterase with the ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of organophosphate esters. G117H was still able to hydrolyze butyrylthiocholine, benzoylcholine, and o-nitrophenyl butyrate, but in addition it had acquired the ability to hydrolyze the antiglaucoma drug echothiophate and the pesticide paraoxon. Wild-type butyrylcholinesterase was irreversibly inhibited by echothiophate and paraoxon, but G117H regained 100% activity within 2-3 min following reaction with these compounds. On a polyacrylamide gel, the same bands that stained for activity with butyrylthiocholine also stained for activity with echothiophate. G117H is the only enzyme known that hydrolyzes echothiophate. Diethoxyphosphorylated G117H aged with a half-time of 5.5 h, a rate 600 times slower than the rate of hydrolysis. Echothiophate and paraoxon were hydrolyzed with the same kcat of 0.75 min-1. This calculates to a rate acceleration of 100,000-fold for hydrolysis of echothiophate and paraoxon by the G117H mutant compared to the nonenzymatic rate.

Inhibitors of the arachidonic acid cascade in the management of ocular inflammation.

At the present time, corticosteroids are still the most effective class of drugs for the treatment of ocular inflammation. However, since their prolonged use may result in severe ocular side effects, it would be therapeutically beneficial to develop nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that have similar or greater efficacy than steroids, but do not share their ocular side effects. Several currently available non-steroidal drugs have been used clinically as prophylactic or therapeutic agents for the following: 1. Prevention of pupillary constriction during intraocular surgery (cataract extraction). 2. Prevention of postoperative inflammation, i.e., incidence of anterior chamber cellular reaction and aqueous flare (breakdown of blood-aqueous barrier) and IOP rise following cataract surgery, intraocular lens implantation, and argon laser trabeculoplasty. 3. Prevention of contact lens induced corneal neovascularization. 4. Improvement of lens opacity (bendazac). 5. Prevention of cystoid macular edema following intraocular surgery. Treatment over long-term period may be effective; postoperative treatment is ineffective. 6. Prevention of conjunctival hyperemia. Some prophylactic ocular uses such as prevention of surgical miosis or postoperative fluorescein leakage have been reported to be successful. However, it is unclear whether the reported success reflected the pharmacological effects due to inhibition of the AA cascade - and hence, reflects the role of some eicosanoids in surgical miosis or postoperative fluorescein leakage - or reflect the effects of these drugs on unexplored physiological or pharmacological mechanisms. For example, pretreatment with flurbiprofen to prevent surgical miosis was based on the assumption that PGs are potent miotic agents in all mammals, including humans. It remains to be established however, whether the small reduction in the extent of pupillary miosis is due to prevention of PG synthesis by this drug or to the prevention of the synthesis of other AA products, such as prostacyclin and thromboxane or possibly to some entirely different mechanism. Prevention of post-surgical fluorescein leakage by prophylactic pre and/or post surgical treatment with a variety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents is also assumed to be due to inhibition of intraocular PG synthesis, although the possibility that it is due to prevention of the synthesis of prostacyclin or TxA2 has not been ruled out. Even more important, it has not been demonstrated that prevention of this post operative fluorescein leakage reflects the prevention or inhibition of true CME and associated loss of visual acuity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bioavailability analysis of chlorpromazine in humans from pupilometric data.

Results of studying the time variation of the miotic response intensity for periods of 6 to 8 hours after dosing in up to 16 normal human subjects who received various oral liquid and intravenous doses of chlorpromazine are reported. Relative to oral liquid doses of chlorpromazine syrup, intravenous doses of the drug slowly infused over a consistent time interval of 30 minutes are approximately 11 times as potent in eliciting miotic response activity. Miotic activity was found to be quite dose sensitive as seen from the response vs. time profiles and the dose-effect curves constructed as plots of areas under the response curves and peak response intensities. The dose-effect curves are approximately linear for both intravenous and oral dosing over the majority of the dose ranges studied. Pupilometry is demonstrated as providing a highly sensitive, reliable, rapid and convenient method for detecting differences in both rates and extents of systemic chlorpromazine bioavailability after parenteral or oral dosing with chlorpromazine. Pupilometry allows comparative bioavailability studies to be readily completed for low oral doses, e.g., 10 mg/70 kg, which are not possible to perform even under the most ideal conditions, using the best direct assay techniques presently available. It is precisely at such low oral doses that bioavailability between oral dosage forms are most pronounced and the use of pupilometry has its greatest utility.

Pharmacological response data for comparative bioavailability studies of chlorpromazine oral dosage forms in humans: I. Pupilometry.

Owing to the insensitivity of even the presently best chemical or radiological assay procedures, it is not feasible to perform comparative bioavailability studies of chlorpromazine oral drug products using blood or urine sampling; this is particularly the case for oral doses below 100-150 mg/70 kg. In contrast, the use of temporal miotic response data, which correlates with blood levels of unchanged drug, permits dose-response vs time profiles to be recorded with oral dose levels as low as 5-10 mg/70 kg. The monitoring of pupilometric data in up to 16 human volunteers demonstrated a sensitivity to both extents and rates of chlorpromazine bioavailability and revealed differences to exist between liquid and solid oral dosage forms of chlorpromazine.