Depletion of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system by cysteamine

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Neurosci. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5369268

Sagar, S M; Landry, D; Millard, W J; Badger, T M; Arnold, M A; Martin, J B

Selective neurotoxins have been of value in providing a means for specifically interfering with the actions of endogenous neurotransmitter candidates. Others have shown cysteamine (CSH) to deplete the gastrointestinal tract and hypothalamus of rats of immunoreactive somatostatin, suggesting a toxic action of that compound directed against somatostatin-containing cells. The present study further defines the actions of cysteamine on somatostatin in the central nervous system. (CNS). Cysteamine hydrochloride administered subcutaneously results in a depletion of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in the retina, brain, and cervical spinal cord of rats. The effect is demonstrable at doses of 30 mg/kg of body weight and above, occurs within 2 to 4 hr of a single injection of the drug, and is largely reversible within 1 week. The mean depletion of SLI observed within the CNS varies from 38% in cerebral cortex to 65% in cervical spinal cord 24 hr following administration of CSH, 300 mg/kg of body weight, s.c. By gel permeation chromatography, all molecular weight forms of SLI are affected, with the largest reductions in those forms that co-chromatograph with synthetic somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-28. These results indicate that CSH has a generalized, rapid, and largely reversible effect in depleting SLI from the rat CNS.

• OSTI ID: 5369268
• Journal Information: J. Neurosci. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Neurosci. Res.; (United States) Vol. 2:2; ISSN JNRED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRUGS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
MAMMALS
MEA
MEDICINE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROLOGY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RATS
RODENTS
THIOLS
VERTEBRATES