Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:4.6.1.2 (guanylate cyclase)
8,497 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In the central nervous system, nitric oxide (NO) is increasingly being considered as a trans-synaptic retrograde messenger, being involved for instance in cellular responses to stimulation of glutamate receptors of the NMDA subtype. Thus, compounds that modify NO production, such as NO synthase inhibitors, may provide a means of altering NMDA receptor function. The functional consequences of NO synthase inhibition are, however, complicated by the fact that NO not only serves as a messenger to activate guanylyl cyclase and so to raise cGMP in target cells in response to NMDA receptor stimulation but also to induce feedback inhibition of the NMDA receptor via a redox modulatory site on the receptor complex. This may explain the contrasting results obtained previously with NO synthase inhibitors in animal models of ischaemia and seizures. In the present study, we tried to resolve the reported discrepancies about the effects of NO synthase inhibitors in seizure models by studying such drugs at various doses in a novel model of cortical seizure threshold. In this model, the threshold for seizures in rats is determined at short time intervals by applying ramp-shaped electrical pulse-trains directly to the cerebral cortex, allowing one to determine the time course of anti- or proconvulsant drug effects in individual rats. Two NO synthase inhibitors, NG-nitro-L-arginine and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, were compared with a clinically effective antiepileptic drug, i.e. valproate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Dose-dependent anticonvulsant and proconvulsant effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on seizure threshold in a cortical stimulation model in rats. 753 78

A nitric oxide synthase was partially purified from soluble extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms. The conversion of L-arginine to citrulline by this enzyme activity required NADPH and was blocked by EGTA. The reaction was activated by Ca2+, calmodulin, tetrahydrobiopterin, and FAD, and inhibited by N omega-methyl-L-arginine. L-Glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate stimulated in vivo conversion of L-arginine to citrulline by epimastigote cells. These stimulations could be blocked by EGTA, MK-801, and ketamine and enhanced by glycine. A sodium nitroprusside-activated guanylyl cyclase activity was detected in cell-free, soluble preparations of T. cruzi epimastigotes. L-Glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and sodium nitroprusside increased epimastigote cyclic GMP levels. MK-801 bound specifically to T. cruzi epimastigote cells. This binding was competed by ketamine and enhanced by glycine or L-serine. Evidence thus indicates that in T. cruzi epimastigotes, L-glutamate controls cyclic GMP levels through a pathway mediated by nitric oxide.
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PMID:The nitric oxide transduction pathway in Trypanosoma cruzi. 754 49

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays a key role in synaptic plasticity and is thought to underlie memory, learning and development of the nervous system. The NMDA receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel complex that contains distinct recognition sites for endogenous and exogenous ligands, including glutamate, glycine, Mg2+, Zn2+ and noncompetitive blockers such as MK-801. In the central nervous system, nitric oxide (NO) is produced in some neurons following activation of excitatory amino acids receptors, particularly those of the NMDA receptor. Nitric oxide is synthesized from a L-arginine by the cytoplasmic enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) which is a calcium dependent enzyme, and this pathway is inhibited by the analogues of L-arginine such as NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and is augmented by NMDA receptor activation. Activation of the NMDA receptor results in the elevation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) which in turn activates NOS via the calcium-calmodulin complex. Nitric oxide is not a classical neurotransmitter in the central nervous system since it is not released by exocytosis and does not interact with a receptor protein but rather diffuses rapidly across the membrane and binds with the iron in heme-containing proteins. Nitric oxide can serve as both an oxidizing and reducing agent. It has strong affinity for heme proteins such as guanylyl cyclase, but there is evident that NO may have a regulatory role by oxidizing sulfhydryl groups of non-heme proteins such as those on the NMDA receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:The generation of nitric oxide and its roles in neurotransmission and neurotoxicity. 754 46

The mechanisms by which two nitrogen monoxide (NO) generators, hydroxylamine and S-nitroso-L-cysteine (NO-CYS), induce hippocampal [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) release was investigated. Neither hydroxylamine- nor NO-CYS-induced release was affected by the guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue or LY 83,583. The effect of hydroxylamine was completely dependent on extracellular Ca++ and reduced by 40% in the presence of omega-conotoxin GVIA, an N-type Ca(++)-channel antagonist; however it was unaffected by Ni++, nifedipine, caffeine or thapsigargin. The stimulatory effect of hydroxylamine on hippocampal cyclic GMP formation was not significantly affected by removal of extracellular Ca++, indicating that Ca(++)-dependent release is not due to inhibition of NO formation from hydroxylamine. However, the response to NO-CYS was reduced by 35 to 50% in either nominally Ca(++)-free or 10 mM MgSO4-containing buffer. Interestingly, buffer containing ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid dramatically enhanced the formation of NO from NO-CYS and potentiated the NO-CYS response. Both NO-CYS- and hydroxylamine-induced [3H]NE release was inhibited by NE transport blockers, indicating a prominent role for reverse transport. NO-CYS completely inhibited synaptosomal uptake of [3H]NE (IC50 approximately, 300 microM). NO generator-induced [3H]NE release has a glutamate-dependent component (see accompanying article). Inhibition of glutamate-evoked [3H]NE release by mazindol, an inhibitor of NE transport, suggests that the glutamate-dependent component also involves reversal of the NE transporter. These data suggest that NO produced from hydroxylamine or NO-CYS evoke both vesicular and nonvesicular release of hippocampal [3H]NE. Putative NO target molecules and the role of extracellular Ca++ are discussed.
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PMID:Characterization of nitric oxide generator-induced hippocampal [3H]norepinephrine release. II. The role of calcium, reverse norepinephrine transport and cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate. 756 42

Cerebellar long-term depression (LTD) is a model system of information storage in which a persistent attenuation of the parallel fiber-Purkinje neuron (PN) synapse is induced by conjunctive stimulation of parallel fiber and climbing fiber inputs at low frequency. As some studies have suggested that release of the gaseous second messenger, nitric oxide (NO), in the molecular layer and the consequent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) in the PN, is necessary for LTD induction, we have further examined this hypothesis using a cell culture protocol. In cerebellar cultures made from transgenic mice in which the gene for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) has been rendered null, LTD induced by glutamate/depolarization conjunctive stimulation was indistinguishable from that in cultures from wild-type mice in terms of amplitude, rate of onset, and duration. Bath application of cGMP analogs produced a large (80%), transient attenuation of glutamate-gated inward currents. However, application of an activator of soluble guanylate cyclase or an inhibitor of type V cGMP-phosphodiesterase did not mimic the effect of cGMP analogs, and inclusion of cGMP analogs in the patch pipette did not give rise to a slowly developing attenuation, suggesting that these compounds exert their effects at the cell surface. Free Ca was measured in the distal dendritic arbor of single PNs by fura-2 microfluorimetry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:An evaluation of the nitric oxide/cGMP/cGMP-dependent protein kinase cascade in the induction of cerebellar long-term depression in culture. 762 38

We recently reported that intrathecal (i.t.) administration of prostaglandin (PG) E2 or PGF2 alpha in conscious mice induced allodynia through a pathway that includes the glutamate receptor system. Allodynia induced by PGE2 and PGF2 alpha was blocked by antagonists for NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes, respectively. In the present study, we examined the possibility for the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the PG-evoked allodynia. Allodynia was assessed once every 5 min by light stroking of the flank of mice with a paintbrush. Intrathecal administration of L-arginine, a substrate of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), in conscious mice resulted in allodynia. Dose dependency of L-arginine for allodynia showed a bell-shaped pattern (1-10 micrograms/mouse). The maximal allodynic effect was observed with 5.0 micrograms at 10-15 min after i.t. injection, similar in time course and magnitude to that induced by L-glutamate. L-Arginine-induced allodynia was dose-dependently reduced by the NOS inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue with IC50 values of 7.68 and 8.70 pg/mouse, respectively. PGE2-induced allodynia was also dose-dependently inhibited by L-NAME and methylene blue with IC50 values of 94.7 and 74.9 pg/mouse. PGF2 alpha-induced allodynia was inhibited by methylene blue with an IC50 value of 40.6 pg/mouse, but not by L-NAME at doses up to 1.0 ng.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Nitric oxide mediates allodynia induced by intrathecal administration of prostaglandin E2 or prostaglandin F2 alpha in conscious mice. 765 39

In addition to mediating several physiological functions, nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the cytotoxicities observed following activation of macrophages or excess stimulation of neurons by glutamate. We extend our previous observations of glutamate-stimulated, NO-mediated neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat fetal cortical, striatal, and hippocampal neurons. Neurotoxicity elicited by either NMDA or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) exhibits a similar concentration-effect relationship and time course. The concentration-effect curve of NMDA-induced neurotoxicity is shifted to the right in the presence of nitro-L-arginine and farther to the right in arginine-free media. The rank order of potency of several NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors in preventing neurotoxicity is the same as the rank order of these compounds in inhibiting NOS, and this inhibition is stereospecific. NMDA neurotoxicity is also prevented by flavoprotein inhibitors and calmodulin inhibitors, fitting with the roles of flavoproteins and calmodulin as NOS regulators. 8-Bromo-cGMP and guanylyl cyclase inhibitors do not affect neurotoxicity, while superoxide dismutase attenuates neurotoxicity. NOS neurons appear to be the source of neurotoxic NO in culture, as lesions of these neurons with 20 microM quisqualate diminish subsequent NMDA neurotoxicity. Moreover, NMDA neurotoxicity develops over time in culture coincident with the expression of NOS. Immunohistochemical localization of NOS in cultures and intact brain demonstrates widespread distribution of the cell processes suggesting that NOS neurons contact the majority of cortical neurons and so could mediate widespread neurotoxicity.
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PMID:Mechanisms of nitric oxide-mediated neurotoxicity in primary brain cultures. 768 76

We hypothesized that a decrease in cyclic GMP, a second messenger in the glutamate-nitric oxide pathway, would reduce oxygen consumption and improve O2 balance in the ischaemic cerebral cortex. To test this hypothesis, a study was performed in unilateral middle cerebral artery occluded rats which were assigned to either a control or methylene blue (10(-3) M) group. Regional cerebral blood flow was determined using 14C-iodoantipyrine and regional arterial and venous O2 saturations were determined by microspectrophotometry (n = 6). Cyclic GMP level was measured by radioimmunoassay (n = 8). Guanylate cyclase and cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase activities were determined in an additional set of control rats (n = 10). The cyclic GMP levels were not different between the ischaemic and contralateral areas in the control group. Compared to the cyclic GMP in the control ischaemic cortex, topical methylene blue significantly decreased the cyclic GMP level by 56% in the ischaemic cortex of the methylene blue group. Ischaemia did not alter the activities of guanylate cyclase but mildly decreased cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase. The regional cerebral blood flow and O2 consumption in the control group were 50% and 32% lower than those in corresponding contralateral cortex. Topical methylene blue did not alter regional cerebral blood flow and O2 consumption in the ischaemic cortex. Our data showed that cyclic GMP is not a major controller on O2 supply or O2 consumption in the ischaemic brain.
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PMID:Effects of topical methylene blue on cyclic GMP level, blood flow, and O2 consumption in focal cerebral ischaemia. 770 36

Involvement of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) on glutamate receptor-mediated response was investigated in neuronal cells cultured from embryonic rat hippocampus. L-NG-Nitroarginine (NOARG), a NO synthase inhibitor, augmented NMDA- and kainate-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) measured by fura-2 fluorometry. However, quisqualate-induced response was not affected. The potentiating effect of NOARG was blocked by L-arginine, a substrate for NO synthase. NOARG was also effective when added after glutamate-induced response had reached a steady-state. Hemoglobin itself increased the basal level of [Ca2+]i at concentrations higher than 10 mM, and treatment of the cells with 1.0 mM hemoglobin had no effect on NMDA response. 8-Bromo-cyclic GMP was not effective on NMDA response. These results suggest that endogenous NO inhibits NMDA- and kainate-induced increase in [Ca2+]i as a negative feedback system independent of guanylate cyclase activation.
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PMID:Endogenous nitric oxide inhibits NMDA- and kainate- responses by a negative feedback system in rat hippocampal neurons. 790 57

A new fluorescence method using the dye FM1-43 was used to examine exocytotic release from hippocampal synaptosomes. Nitric oxide caused a marked transient stimulation of vesicle release. Several structurally unrelated nitric oxide donors, sodium nitroprusside, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, 3-morpholino-sydnonimine, and acidified sodium nitrite, were effective. Release stimulated by nitric oxide and KCl were comparable in time course, using both the fluorescence assay and [3H]L-glutamate to monitor neurotransmitter release. Activation of guanylyl cyclase was not responsible for nitric oxide-stimulated release. Unlike release stimulated by KCl or A23187, nitric oxide-stimulated release was found to be independent of a rise in intrasynaptosomal Ca2+. Indo-1/AM measurements indicated that nitric oxide actually decreased intracellular Ca2+, and the Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+ did not affect nitric oxide-stimulated vesicle release. Nitric oxide does, however, appear to act on the Ca(2+)-sensitive pool of vesicles. Nitric oxide may be the first physiological mediator that induces vesicle exocytosis without raising Ca2+ and may provide an interesting new tool for the study of molecules involved in vesicle exocytosis.
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PMID:Nitric oxide stimulates Ca(2+)-independent synaptic vesicle release. 791 90


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