• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.939-945
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• 1997

Several types of 4-substituted-quinoline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives possessing different substituents at C4-position such as sulfonyl, phosphonyl, carbonyl groups, or a flexible alkyl chain have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antagonistic activity at the glycine site on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Of them, 5,7-dichloro-4-(tolylsulfonylamino)-quinoline-2-carboxylic acid 9 was found to have the best in vitro binding affinity with IC50 of 0.57 μM. On the other hand, in compounds 21 and 22 the introduction of flexible alkyl chains on C4 of the quinoline mother nuclei caused a significant decrease of the in vitro binding affinity. In addition, replacement of polar carboxylic acid group on C2 by neutral bioisosteres in compounds 23a-d also seems to be disadvantageous to in vitro activity. In the structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of the 4-substituted quinoline-2-carboxylic acid acid derivatives, it was realized that the substitution pattern on C4 significantly influences on the binding affinity for the glycine site of NMDA receptor and the binding affinity might be increased by the introduction of a suitable electron rich substituent at C4 which has the ability of H-bonding donor.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1995

N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor has been well known as an important mediator of several forms of neural and behavioral plasticity. But different results were reported about the effect of MK-801 or dextromethorphan on opioid dependence. The present studies examined whether NMDA receptor antagonists can alter the opioid dependence and tolerance in rodents. Naloxone precipitated withdrawal symptoms and changes of locomotor activities were observed in MK-801 or dextromethorphan pretreated morphine-dependent rats. Tail-flick assay was used for morphine analgesia and tolerance was found after 4 day's consecutive injections (10 mg/kg, s.c., twice/day) of morphine in mice. Locomotor activity was increased and the withdrawal symptoms were decreased by the pretreatment of MK-801 in morphine-dependent rats. But 0.3 mg/kg i.p. of MK-801 intensified the body weight loss and produced severe ataxia and rotation although some withdrawal signs were attenuated. Morphine induced analgesic tolerance was inhibited by the pretreatment of MK-801 and dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan was more potent than MK-801 in inhibiting the development of the analgesic tolerance in mice. These results suggest that NMDA system may be involved in opioid withdrawal and analgesic tolerance but appropriate caution should be requested when MK-801 is used in combination with opioid because of untoward neurologic signs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2011

Although postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common chronic pain syndrome, the pathophysiology of this disorder is not well known and management is often very difficult. N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists are known to be effective in PHN, and magnesium, a physiological blocker of NMDA receptors, is widely used to treat various chronic pain disorders. Here, we present a case of the PHN refractory to conventional treatment, which was treated successfully with transforaminal epidural injection of magnesium sulphate at the affected dermatome.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.19-29
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• 1996

The neurological manifestations of AIDS include dementia, encountered even in the absence of opportunistic superinfection or malignancy. The AIDS Dementia Complex appears to be associated with several neuropathological abnormalities, including astrogliosis and neuronal injury or loss. How can HIV-1 result in neuronal damage if neurons themselves are only rarely, if ever, infected by the vitus\ulcorner In vitro experiments from several different laboratiories have lent support to the existence of HIV- and immune-related toxins. In one recently defined pathway to neuronal injury, HIV-infected macrophages/microglia as well as macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 appear to secrete excitants/neurotoxins. These substances may include arachidonic acid, platelet-activating factor, free radicals (NO - and O$_2$), glutamate, quinolinate, cysteine, cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL1-B, IL-6), and as yet unidentified factors emanating from stimulated macrophages and possibly reactive astrocytes. A final common pathway for newonal suscepubility appears to be operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy, and several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves excessive activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-operated channels, with resultant excessive influx of Ca$\^$2+/ leading to neuronal damage, and thus offers hope for future pharmacological intervention. This chapter reviews two clinically-tolerated NMDA antagonists, memantine and nitroglycerin; (ⅰ) Memantine is an open-channel blocker of the NMDA-associated ion channel and a close congener of the anti-viral and anti-parkinsonian drug amantadine. Memantine blocks the effects of escalating levels of excitotoxins to a greater degree than lower (piysiological) levels of these excitatory amino acids, thus sparing to some extent normal neuronal function. (ⅱ) Niuoglycerin acts at a redox modulatory site of the NMDA receptor/complex to downregulate its activity. The neuroprotective action of nitroglycerin at this site is mediated by n chemical species related to nitric oxide, but in a higher oxidation state, resulting in transfer of an NO group to a critical cysteine on the NMDA receptor. Because of the clinical safety of these drugs, they have the potential for trials in humans. As the structural basis for redox modulation is further elucidated, it may become possible to design even better redox reactive reagents of chinical value. To this end, redox modulatory sites of NMDA receptors have begun to be characterized at a molecular level using site-directed mutagenesis of recombinant subunits (NMDAR1, NMDAR2A-D). Two types of redox modulation can be distinguished. The first type gives rise to a persistent change in the functional activity of the receptor, and we have identified two cysteine residues on the NMDARI subunit (#744 and #798) that are responsible for this action. A second site, presumably also a cysteine(s) because <1 mM N-ethylmaleimide can block its effect in native neurons, underlies the other, more transient redox action. It appears to be at this, as yet unidentified, site on the NMDA receptor that the NO group acts, at least in recombinant receptors.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.217-221
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• 2008

Bicuculline is one of the most commonly used $GABA_A$ receptor antagonists in electrophysiological research. Because of its poor water solubility, bicuculline quaternary ammonium salts such as bicuculline methiodide (BMI) and bicuculline methbromide are preferred. However, a number of studies have shown that BMI has non-$GABA_A$ receptor-mediated effects. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) is implicated in the processing of nociceptive signaling. In this study, we investigated whether BMI has non-GABA receptor-mediated activity in Vc SG neurons using a whole cell patch clamp technique. SG neurons were depolarized by application of BMI ($20{\mu}M$) using a high $Cl^-$ pipette solution. GABA ($30-100{\mu}M$) also induced membrane depolarization of SG neuron. Although BMI is known to be a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, GABA-induced membrane depolarization was enhanced by co-application with BMI. However, free base bicuculline (fBIC) and picrotoxin (PTX), a $GABA_A$ and $GABA_C$ receptor antagonist, blocked the GABA-induced response. Furthermore, BMI-induced membrane depolarization persisted in the presence of PTX or an antagonist cocktail consisting of tetrodotoxin ($Na^+$ channel blocker), AP-5 (NMDA receptor antagonist), CNQX (non-NMDA receptor antagonist), and strychnine (glycine receptor antagonist). Thus BMI induces membrane depolarization by directly acting on postsynaptic Vc SG neurons in a manner which is independent of $GABA_A$ receptors. These results suggest that other unknown mechanisms may be involved in BMI-induced membrane depolarization.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 1995

The cytotoxic effects of hydrogen peroxide and neuroprotective effects of a variety of agents were investigated in newborn mouse forebrain tissue culture. In our experiments, oxygen radical was generated enzymatically by glucose oxidase and the values were expressed as a percentage of number of living cells by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cytotoxicity of oxygen radicals was prevented by catalase and (N, N, N', N', -tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN), but N-tetra-ot-butyl-phenylnitrone (PBN), and deferoxamine (DFX), failed to show protective effects against oxygen radicals. Antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), 7-chlorokynurenic acid (CKA), and MK801 (a non-competitive NMDA antagonist) were also not effective in blocking neurotoxicity induced by glucose oxidase generated oxygen radicals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.532-537
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• 2009

Previous studies reported that the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is related to alcohol dependence in terms of developing withdrawal or tolerance, however, it is controversial whether NMDA receptor antagonists are effective in preventing relapse in alcohol-dependent patients or not. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice, which prefer drinking hereditarily. Using limited access procedures in C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, naltrexone 1.0 mg/kg or, memantine 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg i.p. was administered respectively for twelve days. Medication effects on 2-hours alcohol, 22-hour water, and 24-hour food intake and body weight were studied. Using repeated measure ANOVA, the naltrexone 1 mg/kg, memantine 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg, and vehicle groups showed significant medication by day interaction (naltrexone, df=4, F=11.827, p<0.01, memantine 5 mg/kg, df=4, F=7.999, p<0.01; memantine 25 mg/kg, df=4, F=6.199, p<0.05; memantine 50 mg/kg, df=4, F=10.522, p<0.01) in 2-hour alcohol intake. In 3 memantine groups, there was no significant medication by day interaction with the vehicle group in 22-hour water intake, 24-hour food intake, or body weight. The naltrexone and vehicle groups showed significant medication by day interaction in body weight, but not in 22-hour water or 24-hour food intake. From these results, it is suggested that memantine treatment can affect alcohol intake in mice. Therefore, it is possible that a pure NMDA receptor antagonist is effective in preventing relapse in alcohol-dependent patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2000

Background: Recent studies suggested that a preoperative block of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors with NMDA antagonists may reduce postoperative pain. In this double-blind study, magnesium sulfate, a natural NMDA receptor antagonist, was administered preoperatively to investigate the effects of magnesium sulfate on postoperative pain and pulmonary function. Methods: Seventy patients who were to undergo gastrectomy under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Groups 2 and 3 received intravenous magnesium, preoperatively (Group 2: 50 mg/kg bolus, 7.5 mg/kg/hr for 20 hr, Group 3: 50 mg/kg bolus, 15 mg/kg/hr for 20 hr). Group 1 received normal saline as the control group. Visual analog scale (VAS) for postoperative pain and mood, cumulative analgesic consumption, recovery of pulmonary function and side effects were evaluated at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the operation. Results: In Groups 2 and 3, plasma concentration of magnesium were significantly higher than in Group 1 at 6 and 20 hours after infusion (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the analgesic consumption, and recovery of pulmonary function and the incidence of side effects at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the operation among the three groups. In Group 3, pain scores at rest measured 24 and 48 hours after operation were lower than the control group, and pain scores when deep breathing were significantly lower than the control group at postoperative 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Conclusions: We conclude that intravenous infusion of greater amount of magnesium has little effectiveness in reducing postoperative pain. However, further studies are needed to characterize the clinical significance of these effects on postoperative pain.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.143-143
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• 1998

Antagonists acting at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor have been gaining safer alternatives for stroke therapy because they have few adverse effect competitive and noncompetitive NMDA antagonists. Therefore, the neuroprotect novel glycine site antagonist KC0244 were evaluated in a rat model of transient comparison with GV150526A in a developmental phase. Middle cerebral artery oc was produced by insertion of a silicone-coated 4-0 nylon monofilament to the o in male Sprague-Dawley rats under isoflurane anesthesia. After 90 or 120 min retracted and the ischemic tissue reperfused. In 90-min MCAO model, GV150526A was administered 30 min before MCAO or immediately after MCAO. In 120-min MC KC0244 or GV150526A (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 1 hr before MCAO or imme MCAO. Infarct volume was measured 24 hr after MCAO using the 2,3,5-triphe chloride staining method. In 90-min MCAO model, treatments with GV1505 significantly reduce infarct volume although they tended to slightly reduce cor approximately 19% compared with the nontreated group. In 120-min MCAO model with GV150526A did not either significantly reduce infarct volume although the reduce total infarct volume by approximately 16% compared with the vehicle-tre However, 1-hr preischemic and immediate treatments with KC0244 reduced total i 39 and 30% (corrected total infarct volume by 44 and 32%), respectively, co vehicle-treated control group. The results suggest that KC0244 can provid against transient focal ischemic damage with greater in vivo potency than GV150

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1996

Intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) may play a crucial role in a variety of neuronal functions. Here we report that in primary culture of mouse cerebellar granule cells nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in a specific developmental stage and involved in the regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Nicotine-mediated calcium responses were measured using $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ or fluorometrically using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. Maximal uptake of $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ evoked by nicotine in mouse cerebellar granule cells were revealed $8{\sim}12$ days in culture. In contrast, nicotine did not alter the basal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake in cultured glial cells. In cerebellar granule cells nicotine-evoked $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake was largely blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonists. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT). which removes endogenous glutamate, also prevented nicotine effects, implying the indirect involvement of glutamate in nicotine-mediated calcium responses. Fluorometric studies using fura-2 showed two phases of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises: the initial rising phase and the later plateau phase. Interestingly, the NMDA receptor antagonists and GPT appeared to inhibit only the later plateau phase of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises. The present results imply that nicotine mediated $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises are attributed to the calcium fluxes through both nAchRs and NMDA receptors in a time-dependent manner. Consequently, nAChRs may play an important role in neuronal development by being expressed in a specific developmental stage and regulating the intracellular calcium homeostasis.