Caffeine as a psychomotor stimulant: mechanism of action

The popularity of caffeine as a psychoactive drug is due to its stimulant properties, which depend on its ability to reduce adenosine transmission in the brain. Adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptors are expressed in the basal ganglia, a group of structures involved in various aspects of motor control. Caffeine acts as an antagonist to both types of receptors. Increasing evidence indicates that the psychomotor stimulant effect of caffeine is generated by affecting a particular group of projection neurons located in the striatum, the main receiving area of the basal ganglia. These cells express high levels of adenosine A_2A receptors, which are involved in various intracellular processes, including the expression of immediate early genes and regulation of the dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated 32-kDa phosphoprotein DARPP-32. The present review focuses on the effects of caffeine on striatal signal transduction and on their involvement in caffeine-mediated motor stimulation.Received 8 July 2003; received after revision 7 September 2003; accepted 6 October 2003     

Neurobiology and neuroimmunology of Tourette’s syndrome: an update

Tourettes syndrome is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by the presence of both multiple motor and vocal tics. While the pathogenesis at a molecular and cellular level remains unknown, structural and functional neuroimaging studies point to the involvement of the basal ganglia and related cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits as the neuroanatomical site for Tourettes syndrome. Moreover, Tourettes syndrome has a strong genetic component, and considerable progress has been made in understanding the mode of transmission and in identifying potential genomic loci. Summaries of recent findings in these areas will be reviewed, followed by a critical overview of findings both supporting and challenging the proposed autoimmune hypothesis of Tourettes syndrome. We conclude that Tourettes syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder, and that immune factors may indeed be involved in some patients.Received 12 August 2003; received after revision 8 October 2003; accepted 31 October 2003     

基于铅笔芯和多巴胺电聚合膜固定葡萄糖氧化酶的高灵敏酶电极

市售8B铅笔芯经镀铂处理后,将葡萄糖氧化酶共沉积到新型多巴胺电氧化聚合膜中,最外层再修饰聚邻氨基酚薄膜,研制出新型葡萄糖氧化酶修饰电极用于葡萄糖检测.     

Dopamine and octopamine in whole body extracts of the bulb mite

Summary Using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, whole body extracts of the bulb mite,Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze and Robin), were found to contain the biogenic amines dopamine and octopamine at concentrations of 4.3±0.6 and 2.3±1.4 ng g^–1 wet weight, respectively. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, tyramine,N-methyldopamine,N-acetyldopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine, if present, were below the limits of detectability. This is the initial demonstration of the presence of octopamine in a mite species.     

多巴胺的自氧化作用

研究了碱性溶液中多巴胺的自氧化作用，实验结果表明，多巴胺的自氧化可产生Ｏ＾－２，在一定范围内增加溶液的ｐＨ值和多巴胺的浓度均可增大Ｏ＾－２的产生速率。     

生理条件下多巴胺的电子跃迁行为及应用

在生理条件下(pH 7.45的磷酸缓冲溶液中),研究了多巴胺的电子吸收光谱及荧光光谱,探讨了pH对多巴胺分子稳定性的影响.结果表明,多巴胺在生理条件下,激发光谱的波长为279.0 nm,其荧光发射波长为316.3 nm和623.6 nm,特征吸收波长为275.8 nm,pH>10时多巴胺生成其它物质.多巴胺在0.0~9.50 mg/L浓度范围内与荧光强度呈良好的线性关系,检出限为0.041 mg/L.该方法简便、灵敏、样品用量少,可用于多巴胺注射液等样品分析.     

In vivo inhibition by dopamine of 5-hydroxytryptamine-stimulated ovarian maturation in the red swamp crayfish,Procambarus clarkii

In vivo dopamine antagonizes the ovary-stimulating action of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the red swamp crayfish,Procambarus clarkii.     

Hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal function in the rat following administration of the novel and selective D-1 agonist CY 208-243

Summary The effects of the novel and selective dopamine D-1 agonist CY 208-243 on the rat hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal (HHG) axis were studied. CY 208-243 did not modify the concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) in serum from female or male rats, and had no effect upon opiate antagonist-induced stimulation of LH secretion in male rats. CY 208-243 did not inhibit ovulation in cycling female rats. Thus, D-1 receptor activation by systemic drug administration does not alter HHG function in rats.     

基于木质素和多巴胺改性的MWCNTs水相分散

为解决碳纳米管材料的团聚问题,对多壁碳纳米管(multi-walled carbon nanotubes,MWCNTs)进行多巴胺改性所形成的表面聚多巴胺层,增强了MWCNTs与木质素的结合力,从而最终实现以木质素为分散剂的水相MWCNTs稳定分散。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱和透射电镜对改性MWCNTs的表面化学结构和分散形态进行表征,应用紫外分光光度计定量评价pH值、木质素质量浓度及改性MWCNTs质量浓度对MWCNTs分散效果的影响。结果表明:经多巴胺改性的MWCNTs在木质素分散下可实现高达95.65%的分散度;中性、碱性条件有利于提高分散稳定性;木质素质量浓度为改性MWCNTs质量浓度的5倍时,MWCNTs分散效果最佳;木质素最多能均匀分散其2.5倍质量浓度的改性MWCNTs。