Detection of drug effects on neurons: protein synthesis inhibition by low doses of amphetamine.
The effects of in vivo administered amphetamine (4 and 15 mg/kg) on neuronal and unfractionated brain cortex protein synthesis were evaluated in albino rats. In vitro incubation of brain cortex prisms with 14C-leucine and bulk isolation of neuronal perikarya were performed 1 h after drug administration, and 14C was measured by liquid scintillation counting in hot TCA-insoluble fraction. Amphetamine 15 mg/kg significantly decreased protein synthesis in both fractions, neuronal protein synthesis being more inhibited than total cortex. A lower dose (4 mg/kg) significantly inhibited neuronal protein synthesis, even when it failed to affect total cortex protein synthesis. Results presented here show that neurons may be more sensitive than other brain cells to changes in body temperature. The usefulness of the procedure in the evaluation of drug effects is also considered.
Depto. de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
P M
PM
Berninsone
J L
JL
Bruses
J M
JM
Azcurra
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D000661:Amphetamine; D007930:Leucine