Norepinephrine applications

Figure 2. Effect of maitotoxin (MTX) on the log concentration—contractile response curve for Ca in the presence or absence of verapamil or MgCl2 in the rabbit aorta. Control (A), 10" g/mL MTX (o), 10" M verapamil plus 10 g/mL MTX ( ), and 10 mM MgCl2 plus 10" g/mL MTX ( ). The aorta was incubated in a Ca -free solution for 1 hr before the cumulative application of CaCL. Verapamil or MgCl2 and MTX were added 45 and 30 min before the application of CaCL, respectively. The maximum response to norepinephrine (3 x 10" M) is expressed as 100%. Vertical lines indicate the standard error of mean (n=7). (Reproduced with permission from Ref. 13. Copyright 1983 Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge)...

There is a very wide range of aromatic compounds present in living systems, e.g. the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, and catecholamines such as norepinephrine. Although these speciesi are very useful for in vitro investigations of OH radical generation, their applicability as suitable aromatic detector molecules for OH radical in vivo largely depends on their concentration (i.e. their ability to compete with alternative... 

ANSWER That is Lacey et al., Allan North s group. It was published in the Journal of Physiology last year. It was also an abstract in the Society 2 years ago. It is the consequence of that application of the agonists, recording intracellularly in the slice of the dopamine neuron. He gets the same thing by virtue of application of norepinephrine agonists to noradrene-gic slice preparation. That is a conventional way to create a hyperpolarization of the cell, to increase the potassium conductance, and so forth. 

A particular interest for clinical applications was a possibility for detection of dopamine by its oxidation on nickel [19], cobalt [65], and osmium [66] hexacyanofer-ates. Except for oxidation of dopamine, cobalt and osmium hexacyanoferrates were active in oxidation of epinephrine and norepinephrine. For clinical analysis it is also important to carry out the detection of morphine on cobalt [67] and ferric [68] hexacyanoferrates, as well as the detection of oxidizable amino acids (cystein, methionine) by manganous [69] and ruthenium [70] hexacyanoferrate-modified electrodes. In general, oxidation of thiols was first shown for Prussian blue [71] and nickel hexacyanoferrate [72], This approach has been used for the detection of thiols in rat striatum microdialysate [73], Alternatively, the detection of thiocholine with Prussian blue was employed for pesticide determination in acetylcholine-esterase test [74],... 

Combining agonists with some local anesthetics greatly prolongs the duration of infiltration nerve block the total dose of local anesthetic (and the probability of toxicity) can therefore be reduced. Epinephrine, 1 200,000, is the favored agent for this application, but norepinephrine, phenylephrine, and other agonists have also been used. Systemic effects on the heart and peripheral vasculature may occur even with local drug administration but are usually minimal. 

Friedman JI, Adler DN, Davis KL (1999) The role of norepinephrine in the pathophysiology of cognitive disorders potential applications to the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and Alzheimer s disease. Biol. Psychiatry 46 1243-1252. 

Figure 2.10 Amphetamine 30, methamphetamine 31, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine 32 (MDMA, ecstasy, XTC) are lipophilic compounds with good oral bioavailability they easily cross the blood-brain barrier to exert central nervous system effects. Dopamine 33, norepinephrine (noradrenalin) 34, and epinephrine (adrenaline) 35 are polar phenethylamines they have poor oral efficacy and do not pass the blood-brain barrier, producing only peripheral effects after intravenous application. Ephedrine 36 has intermediate lipophilicity besides its peripheral effects it also acts as a central stimulant. Although L-dopa 37 is even more polar than dopamine 33, it is orally active and crosses the blood-brain barrier by active transport mediated by the amino acid transporter.

Lidocaine is structurally similar to cocaine, which was the first clinically useful local anaesthetic (Figure 5.4). The stimulating effect of cocaine, however, is due to its effect on a second, different receptor in the brain that indirectly amplifies the effect of dopamine and norepinephrine (we will deal with this matter in a later lecture). This effect is actually observed at concentrations lower than those required for the blocking of sodium channels. Yet, local application of cocaine will result in very high concentrations that will... 

Another dmg closely similar to DOPA but used for different applications is a-methyl-DOPA (Figure 10.19a). This molecule acts in the peripheral autonomous system but also enters the brain, by the same route as DOPA. It is converted by DOPA decarboxylase to the false transmitter a-methyl-dopamine. Like dopamine or norepinephrine, a-methyl-dopamine is accumulated inside the transmitter vesicles, and released in response to action potentials. While it has no strong effect on postsynaptic a,-receptors, it does activate 0C2-receptors. It will therefore inhibit the further release of transmitter without stimulating the postsynaptic neuron. The effect of methyl-DOPA is augmented by the fact that it is fairly resistant to monoamine oxidase. Its mode of action resembles that of clonidine (which accomplishes the same in a less roundabout manner). 

Cocaine exhibits several pharmacologic effects. After local application it acts as an anesthetic by blocking the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses. In addition, it has been shown to block neuronal reuptake of norepinephrine, thus potentiating adrenergic activity. Moderate doses increase heart rate and cause vasoconstriction. The most striking systemic effect of cocaine is central nervous system stimulation. 

Electrochemical detection involves the induction of a change in redox state (electrolysis) by application of an electrical potential to an electrode (71). Compounds that can be readily detected by this means are termed electroactive. Under physiological conditions, these compounds tend to be in their reduced state in the nervous system because of the rich level of antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid) and, thus, can be oxidized by application of a positive potential to the electrode. The evolved electrons are detected at the electrode in the form of electrical current. This current is proportional to the number of electroactive molecules at the surface of the electrode, and therefore it is proportional to their concentration in the bulk solution. By implanting an electrode in the extracellular space close to the release site and detecting changes in the local (extracellular) concentration of the neurotransmitter, neurotransmitter release can be monitored. The key advantage of this approach is the high temporal resolution that can be in the millisecond domain. Neurotransmitters that can be detected this way include dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, and melatonin. 

L-dopa, a precursor of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, was introduced into HE therapy by J.D. Parkes et al. in 1970. The results were good. As yet, there is still no accepted opinion on the use of this substance. Piracetam, as a nootropic substance, led to a clear improvement in typical electrical brain activities in animals displaying hepatic damage and symptoms of encephalopathy. Similarly, a double-blind randomized cross-over study with the nootropic agent centropheno-xine partly showed positive effects in psychometric testing. Bromocriptine, an agonist of the dopamine receptor, was also used in 1980 for chronic hepatic encephalopathy. (146,163) Application of L-carnitine (6 g/day orally, divided into two doses, for 4 weeks) leads to a marked reduction of hyperammonaemia and a clear improvement in clinical symptoms of HE in cirrhotic patients. (119) (s. p.49)... 

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