BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON TOFRANIL

1961 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. N. Abadom ◽  
K. Ahmed ◽  
P. G. Scholefield

Tofranil inhibits the respiratory activity of rat brain cortex slices incubated in a glucose-containing medium. It also inhibits the uptake and incorporation of glycine-1-C14at concentrations which have only a slight inhibitory effect on the respiration of slices. Tofranil also inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in both rat liver and rat brain mitochondria but at higher concentrations respiration is greatly affected. Tofranil differs quantitatively from chlorpromazine in its greater inhibitory effect on the ATP–Pi32exchange reaction and its lesser effect on the cytochrome c oxidase activity of rat liver mitochondria.

1958 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Beer ◽  
J. H. Quastel

A study has been made of the effects of acetaldehyde and n-valeric aldehyde on the respiration of rat brain cortex slices in the presence and absence of 0.1 M KCl. Acetaldehyde at low concentrations (1–2 mM) brings about a marked inhibition of potassium-stimulated respiration of brain cortex slices. The inhibition by acetaldehyde occurs at 1/200th the concentration at which ethanol produces the same effects. The stimulation of brain respiration due to potassium ions is abolished by acetaldehyde at concentrations that have no observable effect on the unstimulated respiration. Acetaldehyde and n-valeric aldehyde, at equivalent concentrations, have almost equal inhibitory effects on potassium-stimulated rat brain cortex respiration. The inhibitory effects of the aldehydes do not increase sharply with increase of their concentrations, in contrast to the effects of the corresponding alcohols. The aldehydes, in contrast to the corresponding alcohols, inhibit brain mitochondrial respiration as markedly as they inhibit brain cortex respiration. The inhibitory effect of the aldehyde on mitochondrial respiration with pyruvate as substrate is greater in the presence of small quantities of malate than in the absence of malate. The acetaldehyde inhibition is abolished on the addition of DPN. The results obtained with the aldehydes do not support the view that the corresponding alcohols exercise their inhibitive effects on brain respiration by preliminary conversion to the aldehydes. It is suggested that the aldehydes exercise their inhibitory effects on brain respiration by rapid attainment of equilibrium with a constituent of the brain respiratory system associated with a rate-limiting step in the citric acid cycle.


1958 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 531-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Beer ◽  
J. H. Quastel

A study has been made of the effects of acetaldehyde and n-valeric aldehyde on the respiration of rat brain cortex slices in the presence and absence of 0.1 M KCl. Acetaldehyde at low concentrations (1–2 mM) brings about a marked inhibition of potassium-stimulated respiration of brain cortex slices. The inhibition by acetaldehyde occurs at 1/200th the concentration at which ethanol produces the same effects. The stimulation of brain respiration due to potassium ions is abolished by acetaldehyde at concentrations that have no observable effect on the unstimulated respiration. Acetaldehyde and n-valeric aldehyde, at equivalent concentrations, have almost equal inhibitory effects on potassium-stimulated rat brain cortex respiration. The inhibitory effects of the aldehydes do not increase sharply with increase of their concentrations, in contrast to the effects of the corresponding alcohols. The aldehydes, in contrast to the corresponding alcohols, inhibit brain mitochondrial respiration as markedly as they inhibit brain cortex respiration. The inhibitory effect of the aldehyde on mitochondrial respiration with pyruvate as substrate is greater in the presence of small quantities of malate than in the absence of malate. The acetaldehyde inhibition is abolished on the addition of DPN. The results obtained with the aldehydes do not support the view that the corresponding alcohols exercise their inhibitive effects on brain respiration by preliminary conversion to the aldehydes. It is suggested that the aldehydes exercise their inhibitory effects on brain respiration by rapid attainment of equilibrium with a constituent of the brain respiratory system associated with a rate-limiting step in the citric acid cycle.


1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 1439-1448
Author(s):  
J. P. von Wartburg

Rat brain cortex slices were incubated with 5-hydroxytryptophan-3-C14. A method for determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine-C14 and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid-C14 formed in brain slices is described. Effects of inhibitors of 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase on the metabolic pathway of 5-hydroxytryptophan-3-C14 were measured. α-Methyl dopa (0.33 mM) decreased the level of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid to a greater amount than that of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Iproniazid (3.3 mM) resulted in an accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and a decrease of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid formation of 65%. Pheniprazine (0.1 mM) exerted an inhibitory effect on both 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase. Chlorpromazine (0.5 mM) decreased the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine 60% and had a synergistic effect with the inhibition on respiration of brain slices and 5-hydroxytryptophan transport exerted by 0.2 M n-propanol.


1958 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 543-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Beer ◽  
J. H. Quastel

A study has been made of the effects of a series of aliphatic alcohols (ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, and n-pentanol) on the respiration of rat brain cortex slices in the presence or absence of 0.1 M KCl. The respiration of rat brain cortex slices incubated in presence of 0.1 M KCl is found to be much more sensitive to the alcohols than that of the tissue incubated in absence of the added potassium ions. The inhibitory effects of the alcohols increase markedly as the length of the carbon chain increases and with increase of their concentrations. The stimulation of brain cortex respiration by addition of 0.1 M KCl is diminished or abolished by concentrations of the alcohols that have little effect on the unstimulated respiration. n-Pentanol is far more effective than ethanol in effecting an inhibition of potassium-stimulated brain cortex respiration. The inhibitive effects of the alcohols at low concentration on potassium-stimulated brain cortex respiration are not due to a gradual denaturation of tissue proteins. The data point to a rapid establishment of equilibria between the alcohols and components influencing brain respiratory systems. Brain mitochondrial respiration is relatively insensitive to concentrations of alcohols that considerably depress potassium-stimulated respiration of rat brain cortex slices. It is suggested that the alcohols exercise their inhibitory effects on brain cortex respiration at the brain cell membranes.


1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 1439-1448 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. von Wartburg

Rat brain cortex slices were incubated with 5-hydroxytryptophan-3-C14. A method for determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine-C14 and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid-C14 formed in brain slices is described. Effects of inhibitors of 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase on the metabolic pathway of 5-hydroxytryptophan-3-C14 were measured. α-Methyl dopa (0.33 mM) decreased the level of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid to a greater amount than that of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Iproniazid (3.3 mM) resulted in an accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and a decrease of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid formation of 65%. Pheniprazine (0.1 mM) exerted an inhibitory effect on both 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase. Chlorpromazine (0.5 mM) decreased the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine 60% and had a synergistic effect with the inhibition on respiration of brain slices and 5-hydroxytryptophan transport exerted by 0.2 M n-propanol.


1958 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 543-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Beer ◽  
J. H. Quastel

A study has been made of the effects of a series of aliphatic alcohols (ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, and n-pentanol) on the respiration of rat brain cortex slices in the presence or absence of 0.1 M KCl. The respiration of rat brain cortex slices incubated in presence of 0.1 M KCl is found to be much more sensitive to the alcohols than that of the tissue incubated in absence of the added potassium ions. The inhibitory effects of the alcohols increase markedly as the length of the carbon chain increases and with increase of their concentrations. The stimulation of brain cortex respiration by addition of 0.1 M KCl is diminished or abolished by concentrations of the alcohols that have little effect on the unstimulated respiration. n-Pentanol is far more effective than ethanol in effecting an inhibition of potassium-stimulated brain cortex respiration. The inhibitive effects of the alcohols at low concentration on potassium-stimulated brain cortex respiration are not due to a gradual denaturation of tissue proteins. The data point to a rapid establishment of equilibria between the alcohols and components influencing brain respiratory systems. Brain mitochondrial respiration is relatively insensitive to concentrations of alcohols that considerably depress potassium-stimulated respiration of rat brain cortex slices. It is suggested that the alcohols exercise their inhibitory effects on brain cortex respiration at the brain cell membranes.


1963 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Gonda ◽  
J. H. Quastel

The effects of acetylsalicylate and of 2,4-dinitrophenol on the metabolism and transport processes of rat brain cortex slices incubated at 37° in glucose–Ringer media under various conditions have been investigated. The following processes are suppressed by acetylsalicylate (5 mM) or dinitrophenol (0.05 mM) to a much greater extent in media containing 105 mM KCl or 10 mM NH4Cl (which stimulate brain respiration) than in normal media:(a) respiration;(b) incorporation of phosphate into ATP and ADP;(c) conversion of creatine to phosphocreatine;(d) uptake of glutamate or of creatine from the medium to the tissue.The two drugs increase the leakage of amino acids from rat brain cortex slices into the medium, the effects being greatest in the presence of 105 mM KCl or 5 mM glutamate or in the absence of glucose. They change the yields of labelled amino acids from labelled glucose or labelled glutamate.Labelled glutamate is converted to labelled aspartate, γ-aminobutyrate and glutamine in rat brain cortex slices, the addition of glucose bringing about increased yields of glutamine and γ-aminobutyrate and a decreased yield of aspartate. The formation of labelled glutamine from either labelled glutamate or from labelled glucose is suppressed by acetylsalicylate or dinitrophenol, the effects being greater in the presence of 105 mM KCl or 10 mM NH4Cl.The increased sensitivity of the stimulated tissue metabolism to the drugs, in the presence of high K+, or of NH4+or of glutamate, is probably explained by the fact that there is a fall, under these conditions, in the tissue phosphocreatine level. There is, therefore, less reserve phosphocreatine to maintain the level of ATP when neuronal oxidative phosphorylation is suppressed by the addition of acetylsalicylate or of dinitrophenol.


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