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- Newsgroups: alt.drugs
- Subject: Ketamine for Worms!
- Date: 2 Oct 1994 02:10:59 GMT
-
- I came across these articles on the net -- reminded me of the "Ketamine
- for Children" thread.
-
- ps. the site was "http://eatworms.swmed.edu/", and the worm in question is
- C. elegans.
-
- ============================================
-
-
- MUTATIONS THAT CAUSE CONVULSIONS AGAINST AN ANESTHETIC, KETAMINE
-
- Hideki Ando and Hiroaki Kagawa
-
-
- As a part of study on neuro-muscular function, we tried to isolate
- mutants having abnormal response against some anesthetics. Sixteen
- strains of three independent mutations were isolated with EMS
- mutagenesis. Those had specific response and convulsive movement in
- 3OmM Ketamine-Hydrochloride(C13H16ClNO.HCl). All mutants had similar
- response to another drugs; serotonine, octopamine, as N2. In Ketamine,
- N2 worm had two phased kinetics between time and paralytic states,
- but responded no obvious convulsion to ketamine. Mutants basically
- show N2 like two phased kinetics, but were accompanied by clear
- convulsion during almost all stages. Modes of these convulsion was
- classified into two classes; quick and vibration-like convulsions in
- 15 strains. But nine of those show twitcher in the absence of
- ketamine and other strains had similar as N2. Another one shows wave-
- like convulsive movement in 30mM ketamine and had cold-sensitive
- uncoordinated movement in the absence of ketamine. This strain had
- almost paralytic phenotype at 16 C and recovered perfect motility
- after 40 min at 30 C.
- Genetic analysis shows that 16 strains divided into three
- independent mutations. Three of nine strains having twitcher in the
- absence of ketamine were mapped on LG-IV and could not complement to
- unc-22(e66). Strain J030 having wave-like convulsion was mapped on
- LGV. Double mutant from trans configuration to dpy-11(e224) was not
- obtained. This means that mutation site closed to dpy-11(e224), or
- might be the same cluster. Other strains showing vibration-like
- convulsions in 30mM ketamine but normal behavior without ketamine was
- in progress. One of them might be on LGII. These results indicate
- that ketamine had multiple function to neuro-muscular mechanisms in
- the worm. Further investigation of defectivity of these mutants and
- molecular characterization of defective genes allows us to know new
- aspects about mechanisms of receptor-effecter circuit and cold-
- sensitive uncoordinated movement of C. elegans.
-
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
-
- PHARMACOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND CLONING OF KRA-1 MUTANT
-
- Hideki Ando and Hiroaki Kagawa
-
-
- We have previously reported on isolation of ketamine response
- abnormal (KRA) mutants by temporary convulsive phenotypes (WBG vol10,
- No.3, 1988 and CSH 1989). Ketamine, a general anesthetic, is one of
- the non-competitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA).
- Genetic and molecular study on genes that have influence on normal
- pharmacological response to such drugs must be an adequate approach to
- understanding the NMDA class of glutamate receptor. As reported
- previously, we identified a gene, kra-1 on LGV by genetic study on a
- strain kh-30. Genetic locus of kh-30 mutation site was determined
- between right side breakpoints of nDf32 and sDf20 (0.08mu in span).
- This mutation expresses a semidominant convulsive phenotype in 30mM
- ketamine solution or other NMDA antagonists, a strong inhibition of
- postembryonic development of 10mM ketamine containing NGA, a recessive
- cold sensitive Unc phenotype, and variable motility in usual condition.
- As suggested by John White, we also tested previously isolated
- strains including 26 unc loci derived from over 30 genes and some
- levamisole resistant strains appeared to be blocked their
- postembryonic development by ketamine. In addition, some mutant that
- have abnormal neuron networks showed ketamine resistance in
- postembryonic development. On the other hand, in immediate response
- to ketamine, hypersensitive paralyzing strains (whole body and head
- region restricted) could be found. We are observing pharmacological
- responses of KRA and other strains to acetylcholine antagonists or
- other reagents. Pharmacological and anatomical data will give us any
- suggestions about the ketamine functional site on neuron networks in
- the worm. Tc1 tagging of mec-1 gene is in progress with generous
- supply of Tc1 clones by Marty Chalfie. We do hope mec-1 linked
- fragment will be cloned for matching physical map and genetic map very
- soon.
- [See Figure 1]
-
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
-
- A KRA-1 GENE MIGHT ENCODE A NICOTINIC RECEPTOR-ASSOCIATED NMDA TYPE ION CHANNEL
- IN C. ELEGANS
-
- Hideki Ando and Hiroaki Kagawa
-
-
- Recent studies in invertebrate glutamate receptors indicate the
- presence of at least three types of glutamate receptors, none of which
- are of the NMDA type. Pharmacological data have shown invertebrate
- glutamate receptor ion channels have less selectivity for
- noncompetitive antagonists than that of NMDA receptor ion channels and
- are not shared a voltage-sensitive block by Mg2+ ions, a property of
- NMDA receptor ion channel. We have tested pharmacological effect of
- noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptors to the worm. In
- competition assay using cut worm bathing in drug solution, nicotinic
- transmission appeared to be specifically antagonized by ketamine, a
- non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptor. We have isolated sixteen
- EMS induced mutants showing convulsions against 30mM ketamine and
- other NMDA noncompetitive antagonists; 1mM PCP and MK-801. In the
- case of cut worm assay, convulsion could be induced at less than one
- tenth concentrations. Genetic study to one strain kh30 identified a
- gene kra-1 which was mapped on the locus closed to mec-1 and unc-68
- loci on chromosome V. kra-1(kh30) animal was weak resistant to
- nicotine (0.1mM), suggesting this convulsion was derived from
- defective function of nicotine receptor system. Defective site of kra-
- 1(kh30) might be on nicotinic receptor-associated ion channel because
- kra-1(kh30) was also weak resistant to channel activator ouabine (0.
- 1mM). Competitive nicotinic antagonist d-tubocuraine suppressed
- ketamine function to kra-1(kh30) animal. This suggests that binding
- affinity of ketamine to ion channel decreased in inactivated state.
- Finally, convulsion expression of kra-1(kh30) animal with ketamine was
- also suppressed by Mg2+ ion. These data permit us to conclude that
- this ion channel could be associated by nicotinic receptor with
- pharmacological homology to vertebrate NMDA ion channel. Cloning and
- molecular study of the gene will confirm a pharmacological results.
- [See Figure 1]
-
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
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-