Norepinephrine treatment, protein

Apparsundaram S, Schroeter S, Giovanetti E, Blakely RD (1998b) Acute regulation of norepinephrine transport II. PKC-modulated surface expression of human norepinephrine transporter proteins. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 287 744-751 Arndt lO, Dorozynsky L, Woody GE, McLeUan AT, O Brien CP (1992) Desipramine treatment of cocaine dependence in methadone-maintained patients. Arch Gen Psychiatry 49 888-893 Balkovetz DP, Tiruppathi C, Leibach PH, Mahesh VB, Gtmapathy V (1989) Evidence for an imipramine-sensitive serotonin transporter in humtm placenttil bmsh-border membranes. J Biol Chem 264 2195-2198... 

In contrast, following a treatment regimen of 20 mg/kg MDMA, there were no significant differences in the density of [3H]mazindol-labeled norepinephrine (NE) uptake sites (fmol/mg protein) in the frontal cerebral cortex between saline-treated (159 17) and MDMA-treated (152 5) animals. With respect to the dose of MDMA, serotonin levels appeared to be more readily decreased (45 percent reduction at 5 mg/kg), while comparable reductions in 5-HlAA levels and serotonin uptake sites were noted only at 10 or 20 mg/kg MDMA. This apparent discrepancy among the three serotonergic markers measured in the present study may relate to effects of lower doses of MDMA on synthetic enzyme activity (i.e., TPH), whereas the effects of higher doses of MDMA in reducing all three markers may relate in part to effects on TPH activity and in part to destruction of serotonin neurons as evidenced by decreases in serotonin uptake sites. 

A number of medications used in the treatment of anxiety have effects on serotonin neurotransmission (Ch. 13). These medications include tricyclic antidepressant medications, SSRIs, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). However, because these medications take weeks to exert their full anxiolytic effects, it is unlikely that blocking the reuptake (and thus increasing synaptic levels) of either serotonin or norepinephrine selectively is responsible for their anxiolytic properties — rather it is suspected that the therapeutic effects are due to changes in gene expression, protein levels, and eventually changes in synaptic connections between neurons. 

The methyl transferases (MTs) catalyze the methyl conjugation of a number of small molecules, such as drugs, hormones, and neurotransmitters, but they are also responsible for the methylation of such macromolecules as proteins, RNA, and DNA. A representative reaction of this type is shown in Figure 4.1. Most of the MTs use S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) as the methyl donor, and this compound is now being used as a dietary supplement for the treatment of various conditions. Methylations typically occur at oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atoms on a molecule. For example, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is responsible for the biotransformation of catecholamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. A-methylation is a well established pathway for the metabolism of neurotransmitters, such as conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine and methylation of nicotinamide and histamine. Possibly the most clinically relevant example of MT activity involves 5-methylation by the enzyme thiopurine me thy Itransf erase (TPMT). Patients who are low or lacking in TPMT (i.e., are polymorphic) are at... 

Endogenous norepinephrine stimulates cardiac beta receptors. Receptor-linked cAMP-dependent protein kinases phosphorylate calcium channels to increase intracellular calcium. Elevated intracellular calcium increases conduction velocity (phase 0) and decreases the threshold potential in normal SA and AV node cells (see Figure 12.13). Beta blockers slow spontaneous conduction velocity in the SA node by approximately 10-20 percent. In addition, beta blockers can slow conduction velocity while increasing the refractory period of the AV node. These effects control the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation or flutter and terminate paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias. They are also safer, although somewhat less effective, than other drugs for suppression of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). Drugs in this class approved by the FDA for treatment of various arrhythmias include propranolol, acebutolol, and esmolol. Problems with the beta blockers include drowsiness, fatigue, impotence, and depressed ventricular performance. 

The initial event in the utilization of fat as an energy source is the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols by lipases, an event referred to as lipolysis. The lipase of adipose tissue are activated on treatment of these cells with the hormones epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon, and adrenocorticotropic hormone. In adipose cells, these hormones trigger 7TM receptors that activate adenylate cyclase (Section 15,1.3 ). The increased level of cyclic AMP then stimulates protein kinase A, -which activates the lipases by phosphorylating them. Thus, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon, and adrenocorticotropic hormone induce lipolysis (Figure 22.6). In contrast, insulin inhibits lipolysis. The released fatty acids are not soluble in blood plasma, and so, on release, serum albumin binds the fatty acids and serves as a carrier. By these means, free fatty acids are made accessible as a fuel in other tissues. 

A reliable, convenient assay for the enzyme was developed, based on the oxidation of the side chain of norepinephrine with sodium periodate (Levin et al., 1960). Because of the presence of adjacent amino and hydroxyl groups, the carbon chain of norepinephrine is more susceptible to attack by periodate than is the corresponding chain of Dopamine. Dopamine labeled with in the terminal position of the side chain was used as the substrate for the enzyme, the norepinephrine produced was treated with periodate, and the liberated radioactive formaldehyde was trapped and counted. The purified enzyme could be assayed by determining the norepinephrine fluorometrically (von Euler and Floding, 1955). The enzyme was solubilized from bovine adrenal medulla particles by treatment with a detergent and subsequently purified by conventional methods of protein fractionation (Levin et al., 1960). 

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