Axon guidance molecules, critical for neurodevelopment, are also implicated in morphological and other neurodaptative changes mediated by physiological or pharmacological events in adult brain. As an example, the psychostimulant cocaine markedly alters axon guidance molecules in adult brain of cocaine-treated rats. To decipher a potential link between drug-induced activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and modulation of axon guidance molecules, we investigated whether GPCR activity in a SK-N-MC human neuroepithelioma cell line (which expresses low levels of D1 dopamine receptors) affects gene expression of axon guidance molecules (semaphorins, ephrins, netrins, and their receptors).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) sequesters monoamine neurotransmitters into vesicles and prevents neurotoxicity. Human or monkey striatum generated three VMAT2 immunoreactive proteins of approximately 75 kDa, approximately 52-55 kDa, and approximately 45 kDa. The approximately 55-kDa band is considered the unglycosylated native protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of 8,9-dihydroxy-1,2,3,11b-tetrahydrochromeno[4,3,2,-de]isoquinoline (5, now named dinoxyline) is described. This molecule was designed as a potential bioisostere that would conserve the essential elements of our beta-phenyldopamine D(1) pharmacophore (i.e.
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