Effects of local inhibition of locus coeruleus acetylcholinesterase by fasciculin in rats.
The inhibition of locus coeruleus (LC) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by Fasciculin II (FAS), a novel anticholinesterase peptide from the green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) venom, was studied in rats. FAS was stereotaxically injected (0.5 microliters of a 1 mg/ml solution) in the right LC. The left LC was taken as control. A group of rats received only saline injected with the same procedure. An inhibition of 80% of LC AChE activity was observed 24 h later. Monoamine and metabolite levels were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. A significant increase of noradrenaline (NA) levels was found in the injected side when compared with controls 24 h after injection. Neither dopamine, serotonin nor their metabolites or the NA metabolite 4-methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol showed any change after FAS injection. Atropine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) did not prevent the NA increase.
Abó
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V
Neurochemistry Division, Instituto de Investigaciones, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Viera
L
L
Silveira
R
R
Dajas
F
F
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; C044937:fasciculin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid