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Rat intestinal microvillus membranes and lipid extracts prepared from them have been studied by fluorescence polarization with three lipid-soluble fluorophores: diphenylhexatriene, retinol, and anthroyl-stearate. The degree of fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene, which provides an index of the "microviscosity" of the lipid regions of the membrane, is exceptionally high in microvillus membranes, the highest yet reported in normal biological membranes. Both the membrane proteins and lipids were found to contribute to the high values. With each of the three probes the polarization values are higher in ileal microvillus membranes as compared to membranes from proximal intestinal segments. Temperature-dependence studies of the fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene and anthroylstearate demonstrate a phase transition in microvillus membranes and in liposomes prepared from their lipid extracts at approximately 26+/-2 degrees C. Ambient pH influences markedly the diphenylhexatriene fluorescence polarization in microvillus membranes but has little effect on that of human erythrocyte ghost membranes. The "microviscosity" of jejunal microvillus membranes is maximal at pH 6.5-7.0 and decreases as much as 50% at pH 3.0, an effect which depends largely upon the membrane proteins. Addition of calcium ions to suspensions of microvillus membranes increases the fluorescence polarization of retinol and anthroyl-stearate, but not that of diphenyl-hexatriene. This confirms the localization of the last compound to the hydrophobic interior of the membrane, relatively distant from the hydrophilic head groups of the polar lipids. Microvillus membrane proteins solubilized with Triton X-100 give relatively high fluorescence polarization and intensity values with retinol, suggesting the presence of binding proteins which could play a role in the normal absorptive mechanism for the vitamin.

The conjugated phenyltetraene PTE-ET-18-OMe (all-(E)-1-O-(15’-Phenylpentadeca-8’,10’,12’,14’-tetraenyl)-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine), is a recently developed fluorescent lysophospholipid analog of edelfosine, (Quesada et al. (2004) J. Med. Chem. 47, 5333–5335). We investigated the use of this analog as a probe of membrane structure. PTE-ET-18-OMe was found to have several properties that are favorable for fluorescence anisotropy (polarization) experiments in membranes, including low fluorescence in water and moderately strong association with lipid bilayers. PTE-ET-18-OMe has absorbance and fluorescence properties similar to those of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) probes, with about as large a difference between its fluorescence anisotropy in liquid disordered (Ld) and ordered states (gel and Lo) as observed for DPH. Also like DPH, PTE-ET-18-OMe has a moderate affinity for both gel state ordered domains and Lo state ordered domains (rafts). However, unlike fluorescent sterols or DPH (Megha and London (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 9997–10004), PTE-ET-18-OMe is not displaced from ordered domains by ceramide. Also unlike DPH, PTE-ET-18-OMe shows only slow exchange between the inner and outer leaflets of membrane bilayers, and can thus be used to examine anisotropy of an individual leaflet of a lipid bilayer. Since PTE-ET-18-OMe is a zwitterionic molecule, it should not be as influenced by electrostatic interactions as are other probes that do not cross the lipid bilayer but have a net charge. We conclude that PTE-ET-18-OMe has some unique properties that should make it a useful fluorescence probe of membrane structure.

Fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy and cholesterol oxidase activity were employed to investigate the effect of phosphatidylcholine (PC) acyl chain length mismatch on the lateral organizations of lipids in liquid-ordered dipalmitoyl-PC/dilauroyl-PC/cholesterol (DPPC/DLPC/CHOL) bilayers. Plots of steady-state fluorescence emission anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) labeled PC (DPH-PC) embedded in the DPPC/DLPC/CHOL bilayers revealed significant peaks at several DPPC mole fractions (YDPPC) when the cholesterol mole fraction (XCHOL) was fixed to particular values. Analogously, the DPH-PC anisotropy peaked at several critical XCHOL’s when YDPPC was fixed. Acyl chain C–H and C=O vibrational peak frequencies of native PC as well as the activity of cholesterol oxidase also revealed dips and peaks at similar YDPPC’s. Importantly, most of the observed peaks/dips coincide with the critical mole fractions predicted by the Superlattice (SL) model. A three-dimensional map of DPH-PC anisotropy versus composition in the range 0.32 ≤ XCHOL ≤ 0.50; 0.54 ≤ YDPPC ≤ 0.72 revealed a prominent peak at (XCHOL, YDPPC) ≈ (0.42, 0.64). This suggests a simultaneous presence of two different types of superlattices, one where cholesterol is the quest molecule in a PC host lattice and another where DPPC is the guest in the DLPC host lattice. Time-resolved measurements of DPH-PC fluorescence indicated the existence of an ordered, rotationally hindered environment of acyl chains at that “critical” composition consistent with the existence of SL arrangements. We propose that beside CHOL/PC superlattices, DPPC, and DLPC as well tend to adopt regular SL-like lateral distributions relative to each other, presumably because the less hydrophobic DLPC molecule is slightly displaced toward the aqueous phase, thus allowing more room and mobility for the head groups of both DPPC and DLPC as well as for the acyl chain tails of DPPC. The parallel presence of two kinds of superlattices, that is, CHOL/PC-SL and DPPC/DLPC-SL as demonstrated here, has intriguing implications regarding lipid homeostasis of eukaryote membranes.

3β-Amino-5-cholestene (aminocholesterol) is a synthetic sterol whose properties in bilayer membranes have been examined. In fluid palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM) bilayers, aminocholesterol and cholesterol were equally effective in increasing acyl chain order, based on changes in diphenylhexatriene (DPH) anisotropy. In fluid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) bilayers, aminocholesterol ordered acyl chains, but slightly less efficiently than cholesterol. Aminocholesterol eliminated the PSM and DPPC gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition enthalpy linearly with concentration, and the enthalpy approached zero at 30 mol% sterol. Whereas cholesterol was able to increase the thermostability of ordered PSM domains in a fluid bilayer, aminocholesterol under equal conditions failed to do this, suggesting that its interaction with PSM was not as favorable as cholesterol’s. In ternary mixed bilayers, containing 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), PSM or DPPC, and cholesterol at proportions to contain a liquid-ordered phase (60:40 by mol of POPC and PSM or DPPC, and 30 mol% cholesterol), the average life-time of trans parinaric acid (tPA) was close to 20 ns. When cholesterol was replaced with aminocholesterol in such mixed bilayers, the average life-time of tPA was only marginally shorter (about 18 ns). This observation, together with acyl chain ordering data, clearly shows that aminocholesterol was able to form a liquid-ordered phase with saturated PSM or DPPC. We conclude that aminocholesterol should be a good sterol replacement in model membrane systems for which a partial positive charge is deemed beneficial.

In dietary phosphate (Pi) deprivation and in aging there is an inverse correlation between renal proximal tubular brush border membrane (BBM) cholesterol (Chol) content, BBM fluidity, and BBM sodium gradient-dependent Pi transport activity (Na-Pi cotransport). The purpose of this study was to determine whether in vitro enrichment of renal BBM with Chol has a direct modulating effect on Na-Pi cotransport. 12 and 24 mol % increases in Chol content caused dose-dependent decreases in Na-Pi cotransport activity, 2,000 in control, vs. 1,450 in Chol (+12%), vs. 900 pmol/5 s/mg BBM protein in Chol (+24%), all P less than 0.01, which was paralleled by dose-dependent increases in the fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene, rDPH, i.e., decrease in BBM fluidity, 0.203 in control, vs. 0.210 in Chol (+12%), vs. 0.219 in Chol (+24%), all P less than 0.01. We found that increasing ambient temperature, which increases BBM fluidity independent of changes in Chol content, increased Na-Pi cotransport. When Na-Pi cotransport was analyzed as a function of BBM fluidity, 1/rDPH, we found that at an equivalent BBM fluidity BBM Chol enrichment still resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in Na-Pi cotransport. Finally, in BBM isolated from rats fed a low Pi diet in vitro enrichment with Chol completely reversed the adaptive increases in Na-Pi cotransport and fluidity. Our study therefore, indicates that Chol is a direct modulator of renal BBM Na-Pi cotransport activity, and that in vivo alterations in BBM Chol content most likely plays an important role in the regulation of renal tubular Pi transport.

Bilayer asymmetry in the apical membrane may be important to the barrier function exhibited by epithelia in the stomach, kidney, and bladder. Previously, we showed that reduced fluidity of a single bilayer leaflet reduced water permeability of the bilayer, and in this study we examine the effect of bilayer asymmetry on permeation of nonelectrolytes, gases, and protons. Bilayer asymmetry was induced in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes by rigidifying the outer leaflet with the rare earth metal, praseodymium (Pr3+). Rigidification was demonstrated by fluorescence anisotropy over a range of temperatures from 24 to 50°C. Pr3+-treatment reduced membrane fluidity at temperatures above 40°C (the phase-transition temperature). Increased fluidity exhibited by dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes at 40°C occurred at temperatures 1–3°C higher in Pr3+-treated liposomes, and for both control and Pr3+-treated liposomes permeability coefficients were approximately two orders of magnitude higher at 48° than at 24°C. Reduced fluidity of one leaflet correlated with significantly reduced permeabilities to urea, glycerol, formamide, acetamide, and NH3. Proton permeability of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes was only fourfold higher at 48° than at 24°C, indicating a weak dependence on membrane fluidity, and this increase was abolished by Pr3+. CO2 permeability was unaffected by temperature. We conclude: (a) that decreasing membrane fluidity in a single leaflet is sufficient to reduce overall membrane permeability to solutes and NH3, suggesting that leaflets in a bilayer offer independent resistances to permeation, (b) bilayer asymmetry is a mechanism by which barrier epithelia can reduce permeability, and (c) CO2 permeation through membranes occurs by a mechanism that is not dependent on fluidity.

We and others have shown that prior exposure to the volatile anesthetic isoflurane induces ischemic tolerance in the brain. Our results also suggest that isoflurane preconditioning reduces cell apoptosis in the penumbral region of rat brain. We designed this study to determine whether isoflurane preconditioning decreased mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to or not exposed to 2% isoflurane for 30 min at 24 h before the permanent middle cerebral arterial occlusion. Western blotting was used to quantify protein expression in the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of non-ischemic brain cortex and brain cortex in the ischemic core and penumbra. Isoflurane preconditioning significantly decreased the infarct volume of cerebral cortex and improved neurological outcome. Isoflurane increased the expression of the antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) proteins in the cerebral cortex of rats without brain ischemia. Rats preconditioned with isoflurane before brain ischemia had increased Bcl-2 expression in the penumbra. Isoflurane preconditioning reduced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and the activation of caspase 3 in the penumbra. However, isoflurane preconditioning did not alter the translocation of Bid and Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria, identified mechanisms for Bcl-2 to block the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Our results suggest that isoflurane preconditioning increases Bcl-2 expression to block the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to decrease the cell apoptosis in the penumbra.

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent environmental pollutant that may cause adverse health effects in humans and animals by interacting with and disturbing of the normal properties of biological lipid assemblies. To gain further insights into these interactions, we investigated the effect of PFOS potassium salt on dimyristoyl- (DMPC), dipalmitoyl- (DPPC) and distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) model membranes using fluorescence anisotropy measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and on the cell membrane of HL-60 human leukemia cells and freshly isolated rat alveolar macrophages using fluorescence anisotropy measurements. PFOS caused a concentration-dependent decrease of the main phase transition temperature (Tm) and an increased peak width (ΔTw) in both the fluorescence anisotropy and the DSC experiments, with a rank order DMPC > DPPC > DSPC. PFOS caused a fluidization of the gel phase of all phosphatidylcholines investigated, but had the opposite effect on the liquid crystalline phase. The apparent partition coefficients of PFOS between the phosphatidylcholine bilayer and the bulk aqueous phase were largely independent of the phosphatidylcholine chain length and ranged from 4.4 × 104 to 8.8 × 104. PFOS also significantly increased the fluidity of membranes of cells. These findings suggest that PFOS readily partitions into lipid assemblies, independent of their composition, and may cause adverse biological effects by altering their fluidity in a manner that depends on the membrane cooperativity and state (e.g., gel versus liquid crystalline phase) of the lipid assembly.

The clinical value of amphotericin B, the mainstay therapy for visceral leishmaniasis in sodium antimony gluconate-nonresponsive zones of Bihar, India, is now threatened by the emergence of acquired drug resistance, and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms is the need of the hour. We have selected an amphotericin B-resistant clinical isolate which demonstrated 8-fold-higher 50% lethal doses (LD50) than an amphotericin B-sensitive strain to explore the mechanism of amphotericin B resistance. Fluorimetric analysis demonstrated lower anisotropy in the motion of the diphenylhexatriene fluorescent probe in the resistant strain, which indicated a higher fluidity of the membrane for the resistant strain than for the sensitive strain. The expression patterns of the two transcripts of S-adenosyl-l-methionine:C-24-Δ-sterol methyltransferase and the absence of ergosterol, replaced by cholesta-5,7,24-trien-3β-ol in the membrane of the resistant parasite, indicate a decreased amphotericin B affinity, which is evidenced by decreased amphotericin B uptake. The expression level of MDR1 is found to be higher in the resistant strain, suggesting a higher rate of efflux of amphotericin B. The resistant parasite also possesses an upregulated tryparedoxin cascade and a more-reduced intracellular thiol level, which helps in better scavenging of reactive oxygen species produced by amphotericin B. The resistance to amphotericin B was partially reverted by the thiol metabolic pathway and ABC transporter inhibitors. Thus, it can be concluded that altered membrane composition, ATP-binding cassette transporters, and an upregulated thiol metabolic pathway have a role in conferring amphotericin B resistance in clinical isolates of Leishmania donovani.

The thalamus has a key function in processing sensory information, sleep, and cognition. We examined the effects of a common volatile anesthetic, isoflurane, on modulation of neuronal excitability in reticular thalamic nucleus (nRT) in intact brain slices from immature rats. In current-clamp recordings, isoflurane (300–600 µM) consistently depolarized membrane potential, decreased input resistance and inhibited both rebound burst firing and tonic spike firing modes of nRT neurons. The isoflurane-induced depolarization persisted not only in the presence of tetrodotoxin, but after replacement of Ca2+ with Ba2+ ions in external solution; it was abolished by partial replacement of extracellular Na+ ions with N-methyl-D-glucamine. In voltage-clamp recordings, we found that isoflurane slowed recovery from inactivation of T-type Ca2+ current. Thus, at clinically relevant concentrations, isoflurane inhibits neuronal excitability of nRT neurons in developing brain via multiple ion channels. Inhibition of the neuronal excitability of thalamic cells may contribute to impairment of sensory information transfer in the thalamocortical network by general anesthetics. The findings may be important for understanding cellular mechanisms of anesthesia such as loss of consciousness and potentially damaging consequences of general anesthetics on developing mammalian brains.

The volatile anesthetic isoflurane poses a number of experimental challenges in the laboratory. Due to its rapid evaporation, the open conditions of most in vitro electrophysiological recording systems make the determination of actual isoflurane concentrations a challenge. Since the absolute anesthetic concentration in solution is directly related to efficacy, concentration measurements are important to allow comparisons between laboratory and clinical studies. In this study we quantify the sources of isoflurane loss during experimentation and describe a method for the measurement of isoflurane concentrations using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry simultaneous to in vitro electrophysiological measurements. Serial samples of perfused bath solution allowed correlation of isoflurane concentrations with ongoing biological effects. Saturated physiological solutions contained 13.4±0.2 mM isoflurane and were diluted to desired “nominal” concentrations for experiments. The perfusion system established stable isoflurane concentrations within the bath by 2 minutes. However, bath isoflurane concentrations varied substantially and unpredictably between experiments. The magnitudes of such discrepancies in isoflurane concentrations spanned clinically important levels. Our studies suggest that, despite countermeasures, solution handling significantly impacted the isoflurane content in the tissue bath. The magnitude of these discrepancies appears to necessitate systematic direct measurement of bath isoflurane concentrations during most in vitro conditions.

Background

Volatile anesthetics produce immobility primarily by action in the spinal cord; however, anesthetic effects among different neuronal classes located in different spinal regions, and how they relate to immobility, are not understood.

Methods

In decerebrated rats, effects of isoflurane and halothane on movement elicited by electrical microstimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) were assessed in relation to minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). Anesthetic effects on step frequency and isometric limb force were measured. The authors also examined effects of MLR stimulation on responses of nociceptive dorsal horn neurons and limb force responses to tail clamp.

Results

Mean isoflurane requirements to block MLR-elicited stepping were slightly but significantly greater than MAC by 10%. Mean halothane requirements to block MLR-elicited stepping were greater than those for isoflurane and exceeded MAC by 20%. From 0.4 to 1.3 MAC (but not 0.0 to 0.4 MAC), there was a dose-dependent reduction in the frequency and force of hind limb movements elicited by MLR stimulation during both anesthetics. MLR stimulation inhibited noxious stimulus evoked responses of dorsal horn neurons by approximately 80%. Aptly, MLR stimulation produced analgesia that outlasted the midbrain stimulus by at least 15 s, as indicated by an 81% reduction in hind limb force elicited noxious tail clamp.

Conclusions

Because electrical stimulation of the MLR elicits movement independent of dorsal horn activation, the results suggest that the immobilizing properties of isoflurane and halothane are largely independent of action in the dorsal horn. The results suggest that volatile anesthetics produce immobility mainly by action on ventral spinal locomotor networks.

Background

The lamprey spinal cord is a well-characterized vertebrate network that could facilitate our understanding of anesthetic action. We tested several hypotheses concerning the lamprey’s clinical application to anesthesia, and the sites/mechanisms of anesthetic action.

Methods

In isolated lamprey spinal cords, minimum immobilizing concentrations (MIC) were determined for halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, propofol, or the nonimmobilizer F6 (1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane)- applied during D-glutamate-induced fictive swimming or noxious tail stimulation. Isoflurane and propofol effects on fictive swimming were tested in the presence and absence of strychnine and/or picrotoxin.

Results

Volatile anesthetic MICs were clinically comparable. Isoflurane MIC for fictive swimming and noxious stimulus-evoked movement were the same. F6 did not produce immobility, but decreased the amplitude and phase lag of fictive swimming. Isoflurane decreased fictive swimming cycle frequency, amplitude, autocorrelation, rostrocaudal phase lag, and coherence. Strychnine and picrotoxin elicited only disorganized motor activity under isoflurane and caused small increases in MIC. Propofol’s effects differed from isoflurane for all locomotor rhythm variables except amplitude. The propofol MIC was much larger in lampreys compared to mammals. However, picrotoxin reversed propfol-induced immobility by reinitiating coordinated locomotor activity and increasing MIC >8-fold.

Conclusions

The lamprey spinal cord is a relevant and tractable vertebrate network model for anesthetic action. Isoflurane disrupts interneuronal locomotor networks. Gamma-aminobutyric acid A and glycine receptors play marginal roles in isoflurane-induced immobility in lampreys. Propofol’s selective gamma-aminobutyric acid AA-receptor-mediated immobilizing mechanism is conserved in lampreys. The differential immobilizing mechanisms of isoflurane versus propofol reflect those in mammals, and further suggest different network modes of immobilizing action.

The presynaptic protein α-synuclein, implicated in Parkinson disease (PD), binds phospholipids and has a role in brain fatty acid (FA) metabolism. In mice lacking α-synuclein (Snca−/−), total brain steady-state mass of the mitochondria-specific phospholipid, cardiolipin, is reduced 22% and its acyl side chains show a 51% increase in saturated FAs and a 25% reduction in essential n-6, but not n-3, polyunsaturated FAs. Additionally, 23% reduction in phosphatidylglycerol content, the immediate biosynthetic precursor of cardiolipin, was observed without alterations in the content of other brain phospholipids. Consistent with these changes, more ordered lipid head group and acyl chain packing with enhanced rotational motion of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) about its long axis were demonstrated in time-resolved DPH fluorescence lifetime experiments. These abnormalities in mitochondrial membrane properties were associated with a 15% reduction in linked complex I/III activity of the electron transport chain, without reductions in mitochondrial number, complex II/III activity, or individual complex I, II, III, or IV activity. Reduced complex I activity is thought to be a critical factor in the development of PD. Thus, altered membrane composition and structure and impaired complex I/III function in Snca−/− brain suggest a relationship between α-synuclein's role in brain lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and PD.

Perfluorooctane-1-sulfonic acid (PFOS) is emerging as an important persistent environmental pollutant. To gain insight into the interaction of PFOS with biological systems, the mixing behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) with PFOS was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence anisotropy measurements. In the DSC experiments the onset temperature of the DPPC pretransition (Tp) decreased with increasing PFOS concentration, disappearing at XDPPC ≤ 0.97. The main DPPC phase transition temperature showed a depression and peak broadening with increasing mole fraction of PFOS in both the DSC and the fluorescence anisotropy studies. From the melting point depression in the fluorescence anisotropy studies, which was observed at a concentration as low as 10 mg/L, an apparent partition coefficient of K = 5.7 × 104 (mole fraction basis) was calculated. These results suggest that PFOS has a high tendency to partition into lipid bilayers. These direct PFOS-DPPC interactions are one possible mechanism by which PFOS may contribute to adverse effects, for example neonatal mortality, in laboratory studies and possibly in humans.

The various lamellar phases of dipalmitoylphosphadtidylcholine bilayers with and without cholesterol were used to assess the versatility of the fluorescent probe merocyanine 540 through simultaneous measurements of emission intensity, spectral shape, and steady-state anisotropy. Induction of the crystalline phase (Lc') by pre-incubation at 4°C produced a wavelength dependence of anisotropy which was strong at 15 and 25°C, weak at 38°C, and minimal above the main transition (>~41.5°C) or after returning the temperature from 46 to 25°C. The profile of anisotropy values across this temperature range revealed the ability of the probe to detect crystalline, gel (Lβ'), and liquid crystalline (Lα) phases. The temperature dependence of fluorescence intensity was additionally able to distinguish between the ripple (Pβ') and gel phases. In contrast, the shape of the emission spectrum, quantified as the ratio of merocyanine monomer and dimer peaks (585 and 621 nm), was primarily sensitive to the crystalline and gel phases because dimer fluorescence requires a highly-ordered environment. This requirement also explained the diminution of anisotropy wavelength dependence above 25°C. Repetition of experiments with vesicles containing cholesterol allowed creation of a phase map. Superimposition of data from the three simultaneous measurements provided details about the various phase regions in the map not discernible from any one of the three alone. The results were applied to assessment of calcium-induced membrane changes in living cells.

PACS Codes: 87.16.dt

The effect of cetirizine on plasma membrane fluidity and heterogeneity of human eosinophils, neutrophils, platelets and lymphocytes was investigated using a fluorescence technique. Membrane fluidity and heterogeneity were studied by measuring the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence decay of 1-(4- trimethylammonium-phenyl)-6-phenyl-1, 3, 5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) incorporated in the membrane. The results demonstrate that cetirizine (1 μg/ml) induced a significant increase in the Hpid order in the exterior part of the membrane and a decrease in membrane heterogeneity in eosinophils, neutrophils and platelets. Moreover, cetirizine blocked the PAF induced changes in membrane fluidity in these cells. Cetirizine did not influence significantly the plasma membrane of lymphocytes. These data may partially explain the effect ofcetirizine on inflammatory cell activities.

The degree of plasma membrane fatty acid unsaturation and the copper sensitivity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are closely correlated. Our objective was to determine whether these effects could be accounted for by differential metal induction of lipid peroxidation. S. cerevisiae S150-2B was enriched with the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) linoleate (18:2) and linolenate (18:3) by growth in 18:2- or 18:3-supplemented medium. Potassium efflux and colony count data indicated that sensitivity to both copper (redox active) and cadmium (redox inactive) was increased in 18:2-supplemented cells and particularly in 18:3-supplemented cells. Copper- and cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation was rapid and associated with a decline in plasma membrane lipid order, detected by fluorescence depolarization measurements with the membrane probe trimethylammonium diphenylhexatriene. Levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (lipid peroxidation products) were up to twofold higher in 18:2-supplemented cells than in unsupplemented cells following metal addition, although this difference was reduced with prolonged incubation up to 3 h. Conjugated-diene levels in metal-exposed cells also increased with both the concentration of copper or cadmium and the degree of cellular fatty acid unsaturation; maximal levels were evident in 18:3-supplemented cells. The results demonstrate heavy metal-induced lipid peroxidation in a microorganism for the first time and indicate that the metal sensitivity of PUFA-enriched S. cerevisiae may be attributable to elevated levels of lipid peroxidation in these cells.

The relative roles of phospholipid fatty acyl chain length and phospholipid fatty acyl chain unsaturation in the determination of rat renal brush border membrane order were examined using multilamellar liposomes. Exposure of brush border membranes to sphingomyelinase resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent decrement in sphingomyelin content. Liposomes prepared from lipid extracts of these membranes were reconstituted to defined phosphatidylcholine (PC)/sphingomyelin (SPH) ratios with pure synthetic PCs of defined chain length and degrees of unsaturation. Mixed-acid PCs from bovine liver, egg, and the rat renal brush border membrane were also examined. The steady state fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) at 37 degrees C was used to reflect acyl chain packing. The steady state anisotropy of DPH in liposomes isolated from the rat renal brush border membrane averaged 0.205 +/- 0.001, n = 8. When liposomes were reconstituted to PC/SPH ratios of 1.1, 1.6, and 2.4 with saturated PCs of acyl chain length 16 to 22, differences in anisotropy between groups were not observed. However, when PCs containing unsaturated or mixed-acid fatty acyl chains were introduced, anisotropy decreased in a concentration dependent fashion. These data suggest that phospholipid fatty acyl chain unsaturation, but not acyl chain length, has a powerful influence on renal brush border membrane order and the PC/SPH ratio is an important determinant of renal membrane order by virtue of the unsaturated fatty acids normally present with these phospholipids.

Isoflurane is a volatile liquid anesthetic agent reported to have recovery times shorter than many anesthetic agents in current use. This study compared postoperative recovery times in pediatric patients receiving dental treatment under isoflurane to those receiving enflurane anesthesia. The study consisted of a retrospective review of anesthesia records for pediatric patients receiving isoflurane anesthesia. These patients were then matched to patients receiving enflurane anesthesia for age, weight, sex, race, and treatment time. A total of nine matched pairs were available for review. The average recovery time (as measured from extubation to discharge) for isoflurane was 53 minutes and for enflurane, 46 minutes. When the matched cases were analyzed by paired t-text, no statistically significant difference in recovery times was demonstrated at the 0.05 level. These findings suggest that there is no significant difference in postoperative recovery times between isofluane and enflurane in pediatric dental outpatients undergoing general anesthesia.

The effect of nedocromil sodium on the plasma membrane fluidity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was investigated by measuring steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of 1-[4-trimethylammonium-phenyl]-6-phenyl- 1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) incorporated in the membrane. Our results show that nedocromil sodium 300 μM significantly decreased membrane fluidity of PMNs. The decrease in membrane fluidity of PMNs induced by fMLP was abolished in the presence of nedocromil sodium. These data suggest that nedocromil sodium interferes with the plasma membranes of PMNs and modulates their activities.

Volatility and low-affinity hamper an ability to define molecular targets of the inhaled anesthetics. Photolabels have proven to be a useful approach in this regard, although none have closely mimicked contemporary drugs. We report here the synthesis and validation of azi-isoflurane, a compound constructed by adding a diazirinyl moiety to the methyl carbon of the commonly used general anesthetic isoflurane. Azi-isoflurane is slightly more hydrophobic than isoflurane, and more potent in tadpoles. This novel compound inhibits Shaw2 K+ channel currents similarly to isoflurane and binds to apoferritin with enhanced affinity. Finally, when irradiated at 300 nm, azi-isoflurane adducts to residues known to line isoflurane-binding sites in apoferritin and integrin LFA-1, the only proteins with isoflurane binding sites defined by crystallography. This reagent should allow rapid discovery of isoflurane molecular targets and binding sites within those targets.

Volatility and low-affinity hamper an ability to define molecular targets of the inhaled anesthetics. Photolabels have proven to be a useful approach in this regard, although none have closely mimicked contemporary drugs. We report here the synthesis and validation of azi-isoflurane, a compound constructed by adding a diazirinyl moiety to the methyl carbon of the commonly used general anesthetic isoflurane. Azi-isoflurane is slightly more hydrophobic than isoflurane, and more potent in tadpoles. This novel compound inhibits Shaw2 K+ channel currents similarly to isoflurane and binds to apoferritin with enhanced affinity. Finally, when irradiated at 300 nm, azi-isoflurane adducts to residues known to line isoflurane-binding sites in apoferritin and integrin LFA-1, the only proteins with isoflurane binding sites defined by crystallography. This reagent should allow rapid discovery of isoflurane molecular targets and binding sites within those targets.

Isoflurane is known to produce slight tachycardia in humans. This study examined the effects of isoflurane on cardiovascular parameters in dogs. Four groups, with six dogs per group, were anesthetized with isoflurane. Prior to isoflurane administration, a femoral artery catheter was inserted. Group 1 was anesthetized with isoflurane alone. Group 2 was pretreated with fentanyl prior to administration of isoflurane. Group 3, anesthetized with isoflurane alone, had a Swan-Ganz catheter introduced through the external jugular vein. Group 4 was pre-treated with fentanyl prior to administration of isoflurane, and had a Swan-Ganz catheter. Physiologic parameters were recorded at 15-min intervals as isoflurane was reduced from 3.5% to 1.5% by 0.5% increments. Heart rate increased while blood pressure decreased during induction (8.5 min) in Group 1 and then returned to control values. In Group 2, heart rate declined with no changes in blood pressure over all isoflurane concentrations. The induction time (time from initiation of the anesthetic until intubation was achieved) was 2 min. In Group 3, the heart rate increased and the blood pressure decreased, with an induction time of 10 min. Cardiac output and pulmonary artery pressure varied inversely to the isoflurane concentration. In Group 4, heart rate decreased with a minimal decrease in blood pressure, and an induction time of 3.5 min. Cardiac output and pulmonary artery pressure varied inversely to the isoflurane concentration. A fifth group of 6 dogs was monitored for heart rate only, while a mask was placed over their noses to simulate the procedure for the administration of an anesthetic. The heart rate increased similar to that of the dogs in Groups 1 and 3, but the tachycardia was abolished with the administration of fentanyl. Increased heart rate could not be directly attributed to isoflurane but was probably due to catecholamines released during induction. Fentanyl blocked this effect, resulting in a decrease in heart rate.

Summary

GABAergic neurons in the reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN) synapse onto thalamocortical neurons in the ventrobasal (VB) thalamus, and this reticulo-thalamocortical pathway is considered an anatomic target for general anesthetic-induced unconsciousness. A mutant mouse was engineered to harbor two amino acid substitutions (S270H, L277A) in the GABAA receptor (GABAA-R) α1 subunit; this mutation abolished sensitivity to the volatile anesthetic isoflurane in recombinant GABAA-Rs, and reduced in vivo sensitivity to isoflurane in the loss-of-righting-reflex assay. We examined the effects of the double mutation on GABAA-R-mediated synaptic currents and isoflurane sensitivity by recording from thalamic neurons in brain slices. The double mutation accelerated the decay, and decreased the ½ width of, evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in VB neurons and attenuated isoflurane-induced prolongation of the eIPSC. The hypnotic zolpidem, a selective modulator of GABAA-Rs containing the α1 subunit, prolonged eIPSC duration regardless of genotype, indicating that mutant mice incorporate α1-subunit containing GABAA-Rs into synapses. In RTN neurons, which lack the α1 subunit, eIPSC duration was longer than in VB, regardless of genotype. Isoflurane reduced the efficacy of GABAergic transmission from RTN to VB, independent of genotype, suggesting a presynaptic action in RTN neurons. Consistent with this observation, isoflurane inhibited both tonic action potential and rebound burst firing in the presence of GABAA-R blockade. The suppressed excitability in RTN neurons is likely mediated by isoflurane-enhanced Ba2+-sensitive, but 4-aminopyridine-insenstive, potassium conductances. We conclude that isoflurane enhances inhibition of thalamic neurons in VB via GABAA-R-dependent, but in RTN via GABAA-R-independent, mechanisms.