A J Hunter

King's College London, London, ENG, United Kingdom

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Publications (6)21.79 Total impact

  • Article: Stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by benzazepine D-1 dopamine agonists with varying efficacies in the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rat--relationship to circling behaviour.
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    ABSTRACT: The ability of benzazepine D-1 dopamine agonists with varying efficacies in stimulating adenylate cyclase and to induce contralateral circling was investigated in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the medial forebrain bundle. In the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats, the benzazepines SKF 38393 (7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine), SKF 75670 (3-CH3 analogue), SKF 80723 (6-Br analogue), SKF 83959 (6-Cl, 3-CH3, 3'-CH3 analogue), SKF 83565 (6-Cl, 3-CH3, 3'-Cl analogue) and SKF 82958 (6-Cl, 3-C3H5 analogue), all produced contralateral circling. The rank order of efficacies (maximal effect, Emax) being, SKF 83565 = SKF 75670 = SKF 83959 = SKF 80723 > SKF 38393 > SKF 82958. In striatal slices from the intact hemisphere, dopamine, SKF 82958, SKF 80723 and SKF 75670 stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The rank order of efficacies being SKF 82958 (109%) = dopamine (100%) = SKF 80723 (98%) > SKF 75670 (72%). Although, SKF 38393 (67%), SKF 83565 (64%) and SKF 83959 (59%) tended to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity, this effect did not reach statistical significance. In the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned hemisphere, basal levels of adenylate cyclase activity were lower (-25%) than in the intact hemisphere. The maximal stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity (expressed as % basal levels) produced by dopamine and the benzazepines in the denervated striatum was greater than observed in the intact striatum. The rank order of efficacies in the dopamine denervated striatum being SKF 82958 (124%) > SKF 80723 (109%) = dopamine (100%) > SKF 38393 (82%) = SKF 83959 (77%) = SKF 83565 (70%) > SKF 75670 (55%). Moreover, dopamine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the denervated striatum with greater potency than in the intact side. The ability of the benzazepine derivatives to induce circling in the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rat is consistent with the general increase in the efficacies of dopamine and benzazepine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the dopamine denervated striatum. However, the maximal effects for inducing circling and stimulating adenylate cyclase activity do not correspond (e.g. SKF 82958 and SKF 75670). This discrepancy may reflect the involvement of other factors including a behavioural role for extrastriatal D-1 dopamine receptors and/or transduction systems other than adenylate cyclase.
    Biochemical Pharmacology 05/1995; 49(9):1185-93. · 4.70 Impact Factor
  • Article: Short- and long-term changes in striatal and extrastriatal dopamine uptake sites in the MPTP-treated common marmoset.
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    ABSTRACT: The 'short-term' (15-30 days) and 'long-term' (18-42 months) effects of the systemic administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on [3H]mazindol binding to dopamine uptake sites was investigated in the common marmoset. In the 'short-term' MPTP-treated group, [3H]mazindol binding was reduced in the caudate-putamen (by -82 to -98% with respect to controls), substantia nigra pars compacta (-71 to -84%), ventral tegmental area (-72%) and nucleus accumbens (-54%). [3H]Mazindol binding in the globus pallidus, frontal cortex and substantia nigra pars reticulata was much lower and was unaffected by MPTP treatment. In the 'long-term' MPTP-treated group [3H]mazindol binding was still greatly reduced in the substantia nigra pars compacta (by -76 to -89%), ventral tegmental area (-71%) and most of the caudate-putamen (-69 to -98%), although the reduction in [3H]mazindol binding in the nucleus accumbens (-27%) and rostroventral caudate nucleus (-69%) was less than in the 'short-term' MPTP-treated group. The motor deficits induced by MPTP treatment in the common marmoset are largely reversible with increasing survival times (Ueki et al., 1989, Neuropharmacology 28, 1089). In the present study, the apparent 'recovery' in [3H]mazindol binding in the rostroventral caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens may indicate regeneration of dopamine neurone terminals in these regions and this may contribute to the behavioural recovery seen in this primate model of Parkinson's disease.
    European Journal of Pharmacology 05/1995; 277(2-3):235-41. · 2.52 Impact Factor
  • Article: Differential anti-parkinsonian effects of benzazepine D1 dopamine agonists with varying efficacies in the MPTP-treated common marmoset.
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    ABSTRACT: In common marmosets systemically treated with MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine), the behavioural effects of benzazepine D1 dopamine (DA) agonists with full/supramaximal (SKF 80723 and SKF 82958), partial (SKF 38393, SKF 75670 and SKF 83565) and no efficacies (SKF 83959) in stimulating adenylate cyclase (AC) activity were investigated. The benzazepine derivatives, with the exception of SKF 82958 (8 fold D1 DA receptor selectivity), demonstrated high D1 DA receptor affinity and selectivity (approximately 100 fold or more) in rat striatal homogenates. Administration of MPTP in marmosets induced locomotor hypoactivity, rigidity and motor disability. SKF 38393 (7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3- benzazepine) and SKF 75670 (3-CH3 analogue) further reduced locomotor activity (by -70 to -80%) and increased motor disability (by +22 to +67%) in these animals. SKF 83565 (6-Cl, 3-CH3, 3'-Cl analogue) and SKF 82958 (6-Cl, 3-C3H5 analogue) had only a slight effect on locomotor activity but decreased motor disability at high doses (-46 to -60%). In contrast, SKF 83959 (6-Cl, 3-CH3, 3'-CH3 analogue) and SKF 80723 (6-Br analogue) produced pronounced increases in locomotion (6-10 fold) and a reversal in motor disability (by -64 to -77%). Oral activity, consisting largely of abnormal, 'dyskinetic' tongue protrusions and vacuous chews, was increased in animals treated with SKF 38393, SKF 83565, SKF 82958 and more especially with SKF 80723 and SKF 83959. Grooming was increased with SKF 82958 and more especially with SKF 80723 and SKF 83959. In contrast, quinpirole (D2 DA agonist), reversed the MPTP-induced motor deficits in the marmoset, with no effect on grooming and oral activity. The present findings further demonstrate the antiparkinsonian actions of some D1 DA agonists in MPTP-treated primates. However, in general the behavioural effects of benzazepines failed to correlate with either their D1 DA receptor affinity/selectivity or their efficacy in stimulating adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. These observations further implicate a behavioural role for D1 DA receptors uncoupled to AC and/or a role for extrastriatal D1 DA receptors in mediating the behavioural response to D1 DA agonists.
    Psychopharmacologia 03/1995; 117(3):275-86. · 4.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Short and long-term changes in cerebral [14C]-2-deoxyglucose uptake in the MPTP-treated marmoset: relationship to locomotor activity.
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    ABSTRACT: The "short-term" (0.7 +/- 0.1 months post-MPTP) and "long-term" effects (36.7 +/- 4.4 months) of MPTP treatment on motor behaviour and [14C]-2DG uptake were investigated in the common marmoset. The subcutaneous administration of MPTP greatly reduced locomotor activity (-94% with respect to controls) and induced motor disability in the "short-term" MPTP-treated marmoset group. In the "long-term" MPTP group, MPTP treatment did not significantly affect locomotor activity (-27% with respect to controls) and there was partial recovery of motor disability. In the "short-term" MPTP group, there were increases in [14C]-2DG uptake in the GPl (+31 to +37%), SNc (+34 to +42%), VTA (+35%), LC (+23%), PPN (+19%) and in the VA (+19%), VL (+20%) and AM (+17%) thalamic nuclei. [14C]-2DG uptake was decreased in the STN (-15%). In the "long-term" MPTP group, [14C]-2DG uptake was increased in the GPl (+18%), SNc (+27%), VTA (+25%), PPN (+19%), ventral caudate nucleus (+18 to +23%), NAc (+22%), F.Ctx (+18%) and in the VA (+34%), VL (+28%), AV (+33%) and AM (+24%) thalamic nuclei. [14C]-2DG uptake was unchanged in the STN. The increase in metabolic activity of the surviving DA neurones and/or the reactive gliosis may account for the initial increase in [14C]-2DG uptake in the SNc and VTA. On the other hand, in the "long-term" MPTP-treated animals the increase in [14C]-2DG uptake in the SNc (though less than in the "short-term" MPTP group), ventral caudate and NAc may reflect the regenerative changes in the dopaminergic system in these areas. Despite the behavioural recovery, [14C]-2DG uptake remained elevated in the target areas for medial pallidal output (the thalamic nuclei and PPN). However, the attenuation of the changes in [14C]-2DG uptake in the GPl and STN of "long-term" MPTP-treated marmosets suggest that the striato-GPl and GPl-STN outputs closely reflect motor function in this primate model of Parkinson's disease.
    Acta Neurovegetativa 02/1995; 101(1-3):65-82. · 2.73 Impact Factor
  • Article: An autoradiographic study of the differential effects of N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) on striatal and extrastriatal D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors in the rat.
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    ABSTRACT: The effect of in vivo administration of the alkylating agent N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) on striatal and extrastriatal D-1 and D-2 dopamine (DA) receptors was investigated in the rat. N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline treatment reduced specific [3H]SCH 23390 (7-chloro-8-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzaze pin e) binding to D-1 DA receptors in the striatum (42-46% of saline-treated controls), entopeduncular nucleus (20%) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (23%). Similarly, specific [3H]spiperone binding to D-2 DA receptors was decreased in the striatum (28-37% of saline-treated controls). However, [3H]spiperone binding in the substantia nigra pars compacta (67%) was much less affected. In vivo pretreatment with the D-1 DA antagonist SCH 23390 selectively and dose dependently protected [3H]SCH 23390 binding against the effects of N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline in the striatal/extrastriatal regions. Pretreatment with the D-2 DA antagonist raclopride or the D-2 DA agonist quinpirole selectively protected [3H]spiperone binding. In contrast, pretreatment with the D-1 DA agonist SKF 38393 (7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine) not only protected [3H]-SCH 23390 binding but at very high doses protected striatal [3H]spiperone binding. The differential alkylating effects of N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline on striatal vs extrastriatal D-1 and D-2 DA receptors may be related to their post- (striatal DA receptors) and pre-synaptic (extrastriatal DA receptors) localizations, respectively. The present results further demonstrate that in vivo, SCH 23390 and raclopride/quinpirole retain their D-1 and D-2 DA receptor selectivity.
    Neuropharmacology 06/1994; 33(5):647-55. · 4.81 Impact Factor
  • Article: Alterations in striatal and extrastriatal D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors in the MPTP-treated common marmoset: an autoradiographic study.
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    ABSTRACT: In adult common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) treatment induced almost total depletion of cells in the substantia nigra pars compacts (SNc) but partial cell loss in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). There was severe depletion of [3H]-mazindol binding to dopamine (DA) uptake sites in the caudate, putamen, and SNc. The loss of [3H]-mazindol binding in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and olfactory tubercle (OT) was less marked. [3H]-mazindol binding in the body of caudate nucleus showed a small but significant recovery with increasing post-lesion survival times. The specific binding of [3H]-SCH 23390 to D-1 DA receptor sites was increased after MPTP treatment in all subregions of both caudate and putamen but was unaltered in the NAc and OT. Substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), frontal cortex, and medial segment of globus pallidus (GPm) all demonstrated moderate levels of [3H]-SCH 23390 binding in control animals, which were unaffected by MPTP treatment. Specific [3H]-spiperone binding to D-2 DA receptor sites was not altered by MPTP treatment in the subregions of caudate-putamen. Moderate levels of [3H]-spiperone binding were observed in control animals in the NAc, OT, SNc, and the lateral segment of globus pallidus (GP1). [3H]-spiperone binding in the SNc and OT was partially decreased in MPTP-treated animals. The changes in specific [3H]-spiperone and [3H]-SCH 23390 binding induced by MPTP-treatment did not alter with post-lesion survival times. These results demonstrate that MPTP treatment causes greater dopaminergic denervation of the caudate-putamen than in NAc/OT. This resulted in an increase in postsynaptic D-1 DA receptor sites in the caudate-putamen but not in the NAc/OT. Also, there appeared to be loss of presynaptic D-2 DA receptor sites in the SNc and OT. In the caudate-putamen, the loss of presynaptic D-2 DA receptor sites may have masked postsynaptic D-2 DA receptor upregulation.
    Synapse 07/1993; 14(2):184-94. · 2.94 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 1994–1995
    • King's College London
      London, ENG, United Kingdom
  • 1993
    • King's College
      Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA