Transport mechanism of L-[14C]glutamate in cortical slices and synaptosomes of rabbits exposed to brain ischemia and reperfusion

Molecular and chemical neuropathology - Changes in the functioning of the glutamatergic system in rabbit brain were studied after partial brain ischemia and reperfusion. In vitro studies were...     

Lipid nanoparticles for skin penetration enhancement-correlation to drug localization within the particle matrix as determined by fluorescence and parelectric spectroscopy.

With topical treatment of skin diseases, the requirement of a high and reproducible drug uptake often still is not met. Moreover, drug targeting to specific skin strata may improve the use of agents which are prone to cause local unwanted effects. Recent investigations have indicated that improved uptake and skin targeting may become feasible by means of nanoparticular systems such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) and nanoemulsions (NE). Here we describe techniques to characterize drug loading to carrier systems and skin penetration profiles by using the lipophilic dye nile red as a model agent. Since the mode of drug association with the particle matrix may strongly influence the efficiency of skin targeting, parelectric spectroscopy (PS) was used to differentiate between matrix incorporation and attachment to the particle surface and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) to solve dye distribution within NLC particles. Nile red was incorporated into the lipid matrix or the covering tensed shell, respectively, of SLN and NLC with all the lipids studied (Compritol, Precirol, oleic acid, Miglyol). In NLC, the dye was enriched in the liquid phase. Next, nile red concentrations were followed by image analysis of vertical sections of pigskin treated with dye-loaded nanoparticular dispersions and an oil-in-water cream for 4 and 8 h in vitro. Following the SLN dispersions, dye penetration increased about fourfold over the uptake obtained following the cream. NLC turned out less potent (相似文献   

The isoflavones mixture from Trifolium pratense L. protects HCN 1-A neurons from oxidative stress

Oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death has been implicated in different neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's. Using the Alzheimer's disease-associated hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), we investigated the neuroprotective efficacy of a natural mixture of phytoestrogenic isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin) from Trifolium pratense L. (Red clover) against oxidative stress-induced cell death in human cortical cell line HCN 1-A maintained in culture. Neuronal viability was determined by MTT or trypan blue test and neuronal integrity by morphological analysis.The results obtained indicate that exposure of HCN 1-A cell cultures to hydrogen peroxide resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in neuron viability. Concentration of H(2)O(2) ranging from 50 to 200 microg/ml were toxic to these cultures. A 24-hour pretreatment with 0.5, 1 and 2 microg/ml isoflavones extract significantly increased cell survival as evidenced by MTT or trypan blue test and significantly prevented the morphological disruption caused by H(2)O(2) as shown by microscopical inspection, indicating that neurons treated with isoflavones were protected from the cell death induced by H(2)O(2) exposure. These findings imply that the neuroprotective effect of isoflavones extract is partly associated with its antioxidant activity. Further, results of these investigations indicate that although isoflavones extract exert a neuroprotective effect, it do not promoted cortical neuron process outgrowth.     

Coupling of lactose molecules to the carrier protein hinders the spleen and bone marrow uptake of doxorubicin conjugated with human albumin.

Several attempts have been made to enhance doxorubicin (DOXO) concentrations in tumour cells by drug conjugation with human albumin (HSA). HSA-DOXO has the drawback of causing DOXO accumulation in spleen and bone marrow, with a consequent leucopoenia not produced when lactose molecules are coupled to the carrier protein. In the present experiments we demonstrated that the effect of HSA lactosamination is not a consequence of a more rapid disappearance from the bloodstream of the lactosaminated conjugate (L-HSA-DOXO), which is rapidly internalized by the liver through the asialoglycoprotein receptor, but is due to a hindered uptake by spleen and bone marrow cells caused by the coupled lactose molecules. Experiments in vitro showed that HSA-DOXO produced an inhibition of murine macrophage proliferation not caused by L-HSA-DOXO. This result can be explained by higher amounts of the former conjugate entering in these cells and suggests macrophages as the cell type responsible for the spleen and bone marrow internalization of HSA-DOXO hindered by lactose coupling. Importantly, lactosamination of HSA did not reduce the marked uptake of HSA-DOXO by chemically induced rat hepatocellular carcinoma. L-HSA-DOXO, by avoiding DOXO accumulation in bone marrow is an attractive candidate for clinical trials against tumors which were found to actively internalize this conjugate in laboratory animals, such as hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Self-expanding mesh stent for endoscopic palliation of rectal obstructing tumors: a preliminary report

Summary The endoscopic insertion of self-expanding mesh stents in four patients affected by obstructing rectal malignant tumors is reported. The preliminary experience shows that, in the short term, normal defecation was achieved, with no complications. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the duration and the quality of the palliative effect.     

Experimental isobaric subarachnoid hemorrhage: regional mitochondrial function during the acute and late phase

Patients treated for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage show, in the long-term follow up, an elevated rate of cognitive disturbances that are mainly related to the impact of the initial bleeding: the neurotoxic effects of blood deposition in subarachnoidal spaces may result in a diffuse encephalopathy, but the intrinsic mechanism and the biochemical correlates are not known. In the present study we have evaluated mitochondrial function after experimental induction of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Mitochondrial function was evaluated in four different rat brain areas (frontal cortex, occipital cortex, hippocampus, and brain stem) after experimental isobaric subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced by injecting 0.07 mL of arterial autologous blood into the cisterna magna. Intracranial pressure did not significantly increase. The nonsynaptic mitochondrial fraction was isolated from different rat brain areas, and the maximal rate of enzymatic reactions of some key enzymatic activities related to the Krebs cycle [nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (oxidized form) (NAD+)-isocitrate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and succinate dehydrogenase] and of the electron transfer chain (cytochrome oxidase) were evaluated. The nonsynaptic mitochondrial fraction was utilized also to check parameters related to the mitochondrial respiration: state 3, state 4, uncoupled state, respiratory control ratio, and adenosine 5'-diphosphate/oxygen ratio. The biochemical parameters were measured at 1 and 72 hours after the subarachnoidal injection of blood. Subarachnoid hemorrhage did not affect the mitochondrial enzymatic activities both at 1 and 72 hours, while the mitochondrial enzymatic activities parameters were significantly affected: in particular, a significant decrease of respiratory control ratio in all tested brain areas was demonstrated. The increased mitochondrial vulnerability in the delayed phases could be one of the biochemical correlates of post-hemorrhagic encephalopathy.     

Lesioning and recovery of the serotoninergic projections to the hippocampus

The time course of the changes of the hippocampal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system after a lesion of the dorsal afferents to this brain area was studied by measuring the content of 5-HT and of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the dorsal, medial and ventral hippocampus. Furthermore, the binding sites for [3H]5-HT, [3H]ketanserin, [3H]imipramine and [3H]mianserin and a 5-HT-mediated behavior (head-twitch responses) were studied in controls and in animals bearing such a lesion. The contents of 5-HT and of 5-HIAA are higher in the ventral than in the dorsal hippocampus. Seven days after the lesion the 5-HT content decreases by 78% in the dorsal and by 50% in the ventral hippocampus. However, 60 days later, a partial recovery, possibly due to a collateral sprouting, does occur. The ratios between 5-HIAA and 5-HT are also increased 10, 14 and 21 days after the lesion, suggesting an increased utilization of the amine by the remaining neuronal terminals. The Bmax of the recognition sites for [3H]5-HT and [3H]mianserin, but not those for [3H]ketanserin are increased 10 days after the lesion and this increase lasts at least 30 days. Finally, starting 10 days after surgery and lasting for 40 days, a 5-HT-mediated behavior (head-twitch responses) shows supersensitivity. These results suggest that important changes occur in the 5-HT innervation of the hippocampus after a mechanical lesion: among these we showed a slow collateral sprouting, an increased utilization of the amine and a supersensitivity of 5-HT receptors.