Ion Channels and Metal Ions in Parkinson's Disease: Historical Perspective to the Current Scenario.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition linked to the deterioration of motor and cognitive performance. It produces degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons along the nigrostriatal pathway in the central nervous system (CNS), which leads to symptoms such as bradykinesias, tremors, rigidity, and postural instability. There are several medications currently approved for the therapy of PD, but a permanent cure for it remains elusive.

2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunctions in MPTP/MPP model of Parkinson's disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely linked with the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite several therapeutic advancements related to symptomatic modification of PD pathology, strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunctions remain largely elusive. Recently, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have been shown to play a pivotal role in the control of mitochondrial and neuronal functioning in PD.

Pharmacological Modulation of TRPM2 Channels via PARP Pathway Leads to Neuroprotection in MPTP-induced Parkinson's Disease in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Transient receptor potential melastatin-2 (TRPM2) channels are cation channels activated by oxidative stress and ADP-ribose (ADPR). Role of TRPM2 channels has been postulated in several neurological disorders, but, it has not been explored in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Thus, the role of TRPM2 and its associated poly (ADPR) polymerase (PARP) signaling pathways were investigated in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD rat model using TRPM2 inhibitor, 2-aminoethyl diphenyl borinate (2-APB), and PARP inhibitor, N-(6-Oxo-5,6-dihydrophenanthridin-2-yl)-(N,N-dimethylamino) acetamide hydrochloride (PJ-34).

Therapeutic potential of pharmacological agents targeting TRP channels in CNS disorders.

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), stroke, epilepsy, depression, and bipolar disorder have a high impact on both medical and social problems due to the surge in their prevalence. All of these neuronal disorders share some common etiologies including disruption of Ca homeostasis and accumulation of misfolded proteins. These misfolded proteins further disrupt the intracellular Ca homeostasis by disrupting the activity of several ion channels including transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.

Diabetes Mellitus to Neurodegenerative Disorders: Is Oxidative Stress Fueling the Flame?

Background & Objective: Diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are progressive morbidities and represent a major public health burden. A growing body of evidence points towards the comorbidity of diabetes and NDs with a possible exacerbation of latter by former. Considering the high prevalence of both morbidities in aging world population, even a modest impact of diabetes on NDs could lead to significant public health implications.

Hyper-insulinemia increases the glutamate-excitotoxicity in cortical neurons: A mechanistic study.

Insulin resistance in type-2 diabetic condition increases the risk of stroke and cognitive deficits in which involvement of glutamate has been postulated. It has been hypothesized that hyper-insulinemia in cortical neurons increases the vulnerability towards glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. To mimic insulin resistance, cortical neurons were incubated with high insulin (1 µM) and high glucose (50 mM final concentration) in in-vitro condition for 24 h.

Endothelin-1 Decreases Excitability of the Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons via ET Receptor.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been demonstrated to be a pro-nociceptive as well as an anti-nociceptive agent. However, underlying molecular mechanisms for these pain modulatory actions remain unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of ET-1 to alter the nociceptor excitability using a patch clamp technique in acutely dissociated rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.

Effects of 4-phenyl butyric acid on high glucose-induced alterations in dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Mechanisms and pathways involving in diabetic neuropathy are still not fully understood but can be unified by the process of overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, downstream intracellular signaling pathways and their modulation. Susceptibility of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) to internal/external hyperglycemic environment stress contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic neuropathy. ER stress leads to abnormal ion channel function, gene expression, transcriptional regulation, metabolism and protein folding.

Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels as Therapeutic Targets for Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is one of most common complication of diabetes, usually affecting 50% of diabetic patients and remains important cause of morbidity, mortality and deterioration of quality of life. PDN is well characterised by chronic hyperglycemia, alterations in expression and kinetics of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and neuro-inflammation which together may result into sensorimotor deficits in peripheral nervous system. Peripheral nociceptive neurons express variety of sodium channel isoforms particularly Nav1.

Calpain inhibitor, MDL 28170 confer electrophysiological, nociceptive and biochemical improvement in diabetic neuropathy.

Calpain plays an important role in the pathophysiology of neurological and cardiovascular complications, but its functional association in diabetic neuropathy is not yet elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of calpain in modulation of tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels (TTX-R Na(+) channels) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons using a pharmacological approach. The effects of a calpain inhibitor, MDL 28170 (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.

Rufinamide Improves Functional and Behavioral Deficits via Blockade of Tetrodotoxin-Resistant Sodium Channels in Diabetic Neuropathy.

Rufinamide is a structurally novel, antiepileptic drug approved for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Its mechanism of action involves inhibition of voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSCs) with possible membrane-stabilizing effects. VGSCs play a significant role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.

Diabetic-induced increased sodium channel activity attenuated by tetracaine in sensory neurons in vitro.

The present study was aimed to explore correlation between the altered pain perception and Na(+) channel activity in diabetic animals as well as the effect of tetracaine on sensory neurons of diabetic rat. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats behavioral nociceptive parameters were assessed. The Na(+) current (INa) was obtained using whole-cell voltage-clamp configuration in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons isolated from diabetic rat (in vitro).

Evaluation of terfenadine and ketoconazole-induced QT prolongation in conscious telemetered guinea pigs.

Terfenadine and ketoconazole are the most widely used positive reference agents in non-clinical cardiac repolarization safety studies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of terfenadine, ketoconazole and their combination on QT prolongation using conscious guinea pigs. Conscious telemetered guinea pigs were orally administered terfenadine (50 mg/kg), ketoconazole (200 mg/kg) or a combination of the two, and effects on QT were recorded using a telemetry system.

Inhibition of sodium current by carbamazepine in dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro.

Carbamazepine (CBZ), one of the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drug, is proposed to inhibit Na+ channel. In this study, we have investigated the effects of CBZ on Na+ current, evoked in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from neonatal rats using whole cell patch clamp technique. In small DRG neurons (20-25 microm), Na+ current was obtained by blocking K+ and Ca2+ currents with appropriate ion replacement and channel blockers.

Neuropharmacological profile of L-pGlu-(1-benzyl)-L-His-L-ProNH2, a newer thyrotropin-releasing hormone analog: effects on seizure models, sodium current, cerebral blood flow and behavioral parameters.

In the present study, L-pGlu-(1-benzyl)-L-His-L-ProNH(2) (NP-355), a newer CNS active thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog was evaluated for its antiepileptic potential. NP-355 (5, 10 and 20 micromol/kg; i.v.

5-HT-induced depression of the spinal monosynaptic reflex potential utilizes different types of 5-HT receptors depending on Mg2+ availability.

Receptor subtypes involved in the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced depression of synaptic transmission in neonatal rat spinal cords in vitro were evaluated in the absence or presence of Mg(2+) in the medium. Stimulation of a dorsal root evoked monosynaptic reflex potential (MSP) and polysynaptic reflex potential (PSP) in the segmental ventral root in Mg(2+)-free medium where the voltage-dependent blockade of NMDA receptors is absent. The 5-HT (0.

Ptychodiscus brevis toxin decreases the spontaneous activity of rat right atria involving muscarinic receptors and potassium channels.

Marine dinoflagellate Ptychodiscus brevis toxin (PbTx), is known to produce toxic effects on cardiovascular system. The present experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of synthetic phosphorus containing Ptychodiscus brevis toxin on spontaneously beating right atrium in vitro. The PbTx (0.

Ptychodiscus brevis toxin-induced depression of spinal reflexes involves 5-HT via 5-HT3 receptors modulated by NMDA receptor.

The involvement of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic (5-HT) system for the Ptychodiscus brevis toxin (PbTx)-induced depression of spinal reflexes was evaluated. The reflex potentials were recorded at ventral root by stimulating the corresponding dorsal root in neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro. Superfusion of PbTx (2.

Involvement of the GABAergic system for Ptychodiscus brevis toxin-induced depression of synaptic transmission elicited in isolated spinal cord from neonatal rats.

The involvement of inhibitory transmitters for Ptychodiscus brevis toxin (PbTx)-induced depression of spinal synaptic transmission in neonatal rats was investigated. Stimulation of a dorsal root evoked monosynaptic reflex (MSR) and polysynaptic reflex (PSR) potentials in the segmental ventral root. The PbTx depressed the reflexes in a concentration-dependent manner and the depression was blocked by GABA(A) antagonist, bicuculline (1 microM).