In this thesis, porous graphitic carbon (PGC) has been used as packing material in packed capillary liquid chromatography. The unique chromatographic properties of PGC has been studied in some detail and applied to different analytical challenges using both electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and ultra violet (UV) absorbance detection. The crucial importance of disengaging the conductive PGC chromatographic separation media from the high voltage mass spectrometric interface has been shown. In the absence of a grounded point between the column and ESI emitter, a current through the column was present, and changed retention behaviors for 3-O-methyl-DOPA and tyrosine were observed. An alteration of the chromatographic properties was also seen when PGC was chemically oxidized with permanganate, possibly due to an oxidation of the few surface groups present on the PGC material. The dynamic adsorption of the chiral selector lasalocid onto the PGC support resulted in a useful and stable chiral stationary phase. Extraordinary enantioselectivity was observed for 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine, and enantioseparation was also achieved for other amines, amino acids, acids and alcohols. Finally, a new strategy for separation of small biologically active compounds in plasma and brain tissue has been developed. With PGC as stationary phase it was possible to utilize a mobile phase of high content of organic modifier, without the addition of ion-pairing agents, and still selectively separate the analytes.

<p><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a>ABSTRACT</a></p> <p>Phenols are ubiquitous in our surroundings including biological molecules such as L-Dopa metabolites, food components, such as whiskey and liquid smoke, etc. This dissertation describes a new method for detecting phenols, by reaction with Gibbs reagent to form indophenols, followed by mass spectrometric detection. Unlike the standard Gibbs reaction which uses a colorimetric approach, the use of mass spectrometry allows for simultaneous detection of differently substituted phenols. The procedure is demonstrated to work for a large variety of phenols without <i>para</i>‐substitution. With <i>para</i>‐substituted phenols, Gibbs products are still often observed, but the specific product depends on the substituent. For <i>para</i> groups with high electronegativity, such as methoxy or halogens, the reaction proceeds by displacement of the substituent. For groups with lower electronegativity, such as amino or alkyl groups, Gibbs products are observed that retain the substituent, indicating that the reaction occurs at the <i>ortho</i> or <i>meta</i> position. In mixtures of phenols, the relative intensities of the Gibbs products are proportional to the relative concentrations, and concentrations as low as 1 μmol/L can be detected. The method is applied to the qualitative analysis of commercial liquid smoke, and it is found that hickory and mesquite flavors have significantly different phenolic composition.</p> <p>In the course of this study, we used this technique to quantify major phenol derivatives in commercial products such as liquid smoke (catechol, guaiacol and syringol) and whiskey (<i>o</i>-cresol, guaiacol and syringol) as the phenol derivatives are a significant part of the aroma of foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages. For instance, phenolic compounds are partly responsible for the taste, aroma and the smokiness in Liquid Smokes and Scotch whiskies. </p> <p>In the analysis of Liquid Smokes, we have carried out an analysis of phenols in commercial liquid smoke by using the reaction with Gibbs reagent followed by analysis using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This analysis technique allows us to avoid any separation and/or solvent extraction steps before MS analysis. With this analysis, we are able to determine and compare the phenolic compositions of hickory, mesquite, pecan and apple wood flavors of liquid smoke. </p> <p>In the analysis of phenols in whiskey, we describe the detection of the Gibbs products from the phenols in four different commercial Scotch whiskies by using simple ESI-MS. In addition, by addition of an internal standard, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-napthol (THN), concentrations of the major phenols in the whiskies are readily obtained. With this analysis we are able to determine and compare the composition of phenols in them and their contribution in the taste, smokey, and aroma to the whiskies.</p> <p>Another important class of phenols are found in biological samples, such as L-Dopa and its metabolites, which are neurotransmitters and play important roles in living systems. In this work, we describe the detection of Gibbs products formed from these neurotransmitters after reaction with Gibbs reagent and analysis by using simple ESI‐MS. This technique would be an alternative method for the detection and simultaneous quantification of these neurotransmitters. </p> <p>Finally, in the course of this work, we found that the positive Gibbs tests are obtained for a wide range of <i>para</i>-substituted phenols, and that, in most cases, substitution occurs by displacement of the <i>para</i>-substituent. In addition, there is generally an additional unique second-phenol-addition product, which conveniently can be used from an analytical perspective to distinguish <i>para</i>-substituted phenols from the unsubstituted versions. In addition to using the methodology for phenol analysis, we are examining the mechanism of indophenol formation, particularly with the <i>para</i>-substituted phenols. </p> <p>The importance of peptides to the scientific world is enormous and, therefore, their structures, properties, and reactivity are exceptionally well-characterized by mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization. In the dipeptide work, we have used mass spectrometry to examine the dissociation of dipeptides of phenylalanine (Phe), containing sulfonated tag as a charge carrier (Phe*), proline (Pro) to investigate their gas phase dissociation. The presence of sulfonated tag (SO₃^-) on the Phe amino acid serves as the charge carrier such that the dipeptide backbone has a canonical structure and is not protonated. Phe-Pro dipeptide and their derivatives were synthesized and analyzed by LCQ-Deca mass spectroscopy to get the fragmentation mechanism. To confirm that fragmentation path, we also synthesized dikitopeparazines and oxazolines from all combinations of the dipeptides. All these analyses were confirmed by isotopic labeling experiments and determination and optimization of structures were carried out using theoretical calculation. We have found that the fragmentation of Phe*Pro and ProPhe* dipeptides form sequence specific b₂ ions. In addition, not only is the ‘mobile proton’ involved in the dissociation process, but also is the ‘backbone hydrogen’ is involved in forming b₂ ions. </p> <p> </p>

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. The major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are closely linked to the pathology of the disease. The main pathology of Parkinson’s disease consists of the degeneration of neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), which leads to reduced amounts of dopamine in the brain. One of the treatment strategies in Parkinson’s disease is to conserve dopamine by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for its catabolism. The monoamine oxidase (MAO) B isoform catalyses the oxidation of dopamine in the central nervous system and is therefore an important target for Parkinson’s disease treatment. Inhibition of MAO-B provides symptomatic relief for Parkinson’s disease patients by increasing endogenous dopamine levels as well as enhancing the levels of dopamine after administration of levodopa (L-dopa), the metabolic precursor of dopamine. Recent studies have shown that phthalide can be used as a scaffold for the design of reversible MAO inhibitors. Although phthalide is a weak MAO-B inhibitor, substitution on the C5 position of phthalide yields highly potent reversible MAO-B inhibitors. In the present study, sesamol and benzodioxane were used as scaffolds for the design of MAO inhibitors. The structures of sesamol and benzodioxane closely resemble that of phthalide, which suggests that these moieties may be useful for the design of MAO inhibitors. This study may be viewed as an exploratory study to discover new scaffolds for MAO inhibition. Since substitution at C5 of phthalide with a benzyloxy side chain yielded particularly potent MAO inhibitors, the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives possessed the benzyloxy substituent in the analogous positions to C5 of phthalide. These were the C5 and C6 positions of sesamol and benzodioxane, respectively. The sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised by reacting sesamol and 6- hydroxy-1,4-benzodioxane, respectively, with an appropriate alkyl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). 6-Hydroxy-1,4- benzodioxane, in turn, was synthesised from 1,4-benzodioxan-6-carboxaldehyde. The structures of the compounds were verified with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses, while the purities were estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sixteen sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised. To determine the inhibition potencies of the synthesised compounds the recombinant human MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes were used. The inhibition potencies were expressed as the corresponding IC50 values. The results showed that the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives are highly potent and selective inhibitors of MAO-B and to a lesser extent MAOA. The most potent MAO-B inhibitor was 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane with an IC50 value of 0.045 μM. All compounds examined displayed selectivity for the MAO-B isoform over MAO-A. Generally the benzodioxane derivatives were found to be more potent inhibitors of human MAO-A and MAO-B than the sesamol derivatives. The reversibility and mode of MAO-B inhibition of a representative derivative, 6-(3- bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane, was examined by measuring the degree to which the enzyme activity recovers after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor complexes, while Lineweaver- Burk plots were constructed to determine whether the mode of inhibition is competitive. Since MAO-B activity is completely recovered after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor mixtures, it was concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane binds reversibly to the MAO-B enzyme. The Lineweaver-Burk plots constructed were linear and intersected on the y-axis. Therefore it may be concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane is a competitive MAO-B inhibitor. To conclude, the C6-substituted benzodioxane derivatives are potent, selective, reversible and competitive inhibitors of human MAO-B. These compounds are therefore promising leads for the future development of therapy for Parkinson’s disease. / MSc (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. The major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are closely linked to the pathology of the disease. The main pathology of Parkinson’s disease consists of the degeneration of neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), which leads to reduced amounts of dopamine in the brain. One of the treatment strategies in Parkinson’s disease is to conserve dopamine by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for its catabolism. The monoamine oxidase (MAO) B isoform catalyses the oxidation of dopamine in the central nervous system and is therefore an important target for Parkinson’s disease treatment. Inhibition of MAO-B provides symptomatic relief for Parkinson’s disease patients by increasing endogenous dopamine levels as well as enhancing the levels of dopamine after administration of levodopa (L-dopa), the metabolic precursor of dopamine. Recent studies have shown that phthalide can be used as a scaffold for the design of reversible MAO inhibitors. Although phthalide is a weak MAO-B inhibitor, substitution on the C5 position of phthalide yields highly potent reversible MAO-B inhibitors. In the present study, sesamol and benzodioxane were used as scaffolds for the design of MAO inhibitors. The structures of sesamol and benzodioxane closely resemble that of phthalide, which suggests that these moieties may be useful for the design of MAO inhibitors. This study may be viewed as an exploratory study to discover new scaffolds for MAO inhibition. Since substitution at C5 of phthalide with a benzyloxy side chain yielded particularly potent MAO inhibitors, the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives possessed the benzyloxy substituent in the analogous positions to C5 of phthalide. These were the C5 and C6 positions of sesamol and benzodioxane, respectively. The sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised by reacting sesamol and 6- hydroxy-1,4-benzodioxane, respectively, with an appropriate alkyl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). 6-Hydroxy-1,4- benzodioxane, in turn, was synthesised from 1,4-benzodioxan-6-carboxaldehyde. The structures of the compounds were verified with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses, while the purities were estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sixteen sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised. To determine the inhibition potencies of the synthesised compounds the recombinant human MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes were used. The inhibition potencies were expressed as the corresponding IC50 values. The results showed that the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives are highly potent and selective inhibitors of MAO-B and to a lesser extent MAOA. The most potent MAO-B inhibitor was 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane with an IC50 value of 0.045 μM. All compounds examined displayed selectivity for the MAO-B isoform over MAO-A. Generally the benzodioxane derivatives were found to be more potent inhibitors of human MAO-A and MAO-B than the sesamol derivatives. The reversibility and mode of MAO-B inhibition of a representative derivative, 6-(3- bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane, was examined by measuring the degree to which the enzyme activity recovers after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor complexes, while Lineweaver- Burk plots were constructed to determine whether the mode of inhibition is competitive. Since MAO-B activity is completely recovered after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor mixtures, it was concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane binds reversibly to the MAO-B enzyme. The Lineweaver-Burk plots constructed were linear and intersected on the y-axis. Therefore it may be concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane is a competitive MAO-B inhibitor. To conclude, the C6-substituted benzodioxane derivatives are potent, selective, reversible and competitive inhibitors of human MAO-B. These compounds are therefore promising leads for the future development of therapy for Parkinson’s disease. / MSc (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Ce travail s’est focalisé sur l’implication, longtemps négligée, du complexe centremédian/parafasciculaire (CM/Pf) du thalamus dans le fonctionnement physiopathologique des ganglions de la base (GB), avec pour objectif principal d’évaluer le potentiel thérapeutique du ciblage de ce noyau dans le traitement chirurgical par stimulation cérébrale profonde (SCP) des mouvements anormaux. Notre étude a porté dans un premier temps sur un modèle de la maladie de Parkinson (MP) chez le rat. La SCP à haute fréquence (SHF) du CM/Pf réduit différents troubles parkinsoniens (akinésie et négligence sensorimotrice) ainsi que les dyskinésies L&#8208;Dopa induites. Cependant, la mise en évidence d’une action négative du traitement dopaminergique sur les effets anti&#8208;parkinsoniens de cette stimulation compromet l’intérêt de cette cible dans le cadre de la MP dont la L&#8208;Dopa reste le traitement de référence. Au niveau cellulaire, la SHF&#8208;CM/Pf interfère très largement avec les effets de la lésion dopaminergique dans le réseau des GB, confirmant la position clé de ce complexe dans la modulation de l’activité des GB. De plus, la comparaison des effets comportementaux et cellulaires de la SHF de cette cible avec celle du noyau subthalamique, cible actuellement privilégiée dans le traitement de la MP, montre des spécificités en relation notamment avec une action sélective de la manipulation du CM/Pf sur le noyau entopédonculaire (EP), homologue chez le rongeur du globus pallidus interne dont l’implication dans les dyskinésies est bien documentée. Notre étude électrophysiologique in vivo confirme la relation entre activité du Pf et manifestation des dyskinésies en mettant en évidence une réactivité du Pf au traitement chronique à la L&#8208;Dopa. Nous avons également montré que la lésion dopaminergique entraine une diminution de l’expression d’un marqueur métabolique de l’activité neuronale dans le Pf qui est complètement normalisée par la SHF, suggérant pour la première fois que la SHF pourrait corriger une diminution d’activité du noyau ciblé. Enfin, la relation étroite entre l’EP et le CM/Pf nous a encouragé à évaluer les effets de la SCP du Pf sur les dystonies sachant que celles&#8208;ci sont traitées par SCP du globus pallidus interne. Nous avons montré, sur le modèle de hamster dtsz, que l’induction des dystonies est favorisée par la SCP à basse fréquence du Pf alors qu’elle est retardée par la SHF appliquée de façon subchronique (9 jour), ce qui met en évidence l’implication du CM/Pf dans cette autre affection motrice liée aux GB. / The involvement of the centremedian/parafascicular (CM/Pf) thalamic complex has long been neglected in the pathophysiological functioning of basal ganglia (BG). However, this complex forms a functional loop with the BG suggesting that it could be a new target for the surgical treatment by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of BG&#8208;related disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). In this context, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of CM/Pf&#8208;DBS in a rat PD model. DBS at high frequency (HFS) of CM/Pf alleviates PD symptoms (akinesia, sensorimotor neglect) as well as L&#8208;Dopa&#8208;induced dyskinesias. However, our observation that chronic L&#8208;Dopa suppresses the antiparkinsonian benefits provided by CM/Pf&#8208;HFS compromises the interest of this target for PD. At cellular level, CM/Pf&#8208;HFS widely impacts the dopaminergic denervation&#8208;induced changes in the BG, showing that CM/Pf is a key node for modulating BG function. Comparison of the behavioral and cellular effects of HFS of CM/Pf versus subthalamic nucleus, the currently preferred target for PD treatment, led us to suggest that their differential impact on akinesia and dyskinesia may be due to a selective action of CM/Pf&#8208;HFS on entopeduncular nucleus (EP), the rodent homologous of internal globus pallidus, whose involvement in dyskinesia is already documented. In vivo electrophysiological recordings of CM/Pf neurons provided further support for the relationship between CM/Pf and dyskinesia. We also showed that the dopaminergic lesion resulted in a decreased gene expression of a metabolic marker of neuronal activity in the CM/Pf, which is completely normalized by HFS, providing the first evidence that HFS may be able to correct a decrease in activity of the targeted nucleus. Finally, given the close relationship between EP and CM/Pf and knowing that internal globus pallidus is a target for DBS in dystonia, we evaluated the effects of CM/Pf&#8208;DBS in an animal model of this disorder, the dtsz hamster. We found that the stress induction of dystonia in this model is delayed by subchronic CM/Pf HFS whereas it is favored by low frequency stimulation providing evidence forthe involvement of CM/Pf in another BG&#8208;related movement disorder.

La stimulation à haute fréquence (SHF) du noyau sous-thalamique (NST) permet de traiter l'ensemble des symptômes moteurs de la maladie de Parkinson (MP), mais aussi d'atténuer l'apparition les dyskinésies L-Dopa induites, grâce notamment à une réduction massive, voire complète, des prises de L-Dopa chez les patients stimulés. Toutefois, les mécanismes in fine qui sous-tendent l'efficacité thérapeutique de la SHF du NST chez l'homme ne sont pas encore élucidés, tout comme les possibles interactions pouvant exister entre les effets induits par la SHF du NST et ceux (synergiques ou non) d'un traitement à la L-DOPA.<br />Notre travail a porté principalement sur l'animal anesthésié, sain ou hémiparkinsonien, traité de manière chronique ou aiguë à la L-Dopa, et soumis ou non à la SHF du NST. Dans une première partie expérimentale, nous avons analysé chez le rat sain les modifications neurochimiques (variations des contenus en glutamate et en GABA mesurées par microdialyse intracérébrale) induites par la SHF du NST sur des structures situées à distance du NST mais impliquées directement ou indirectement dans les circuits moteurs, comme la region Fr3 du cortex moteur, le colliculus supérieur et le noyau ventro-médian du thalamus.Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons essayé de déterminer si la SHF du NST pouvait modifier la réponse à la L-Dopa (suite à un traitement chronique ou aigu) sur les contenus en dopamine (et ses métabolites DOPAC et HVA), en glutamate et en GABA. Les principaux résultats obtenus mettent en exergue une interaction synergique entre les effets d'une injection unique de L-Dopa et ceux induits par la SHF du NST. En effet, il apparaît que cette stimulation stabilise les taux élevés de dopamine suite au traitement L-Dopa, retardant ainsi son métabolisme. Ces résultats pourraient donc apporter de arguments intéressants concernant les effets bénéfiques de la SHF du NST observés chez les malades parkinsoniens, notamment dans la stabilisation des fluctuations motrices. <br />Les données obtenues au cours de ce travail doctoral apportent de nouveaux arguments pour la compréhension des mécanismes de la SHF du NST, et amènent de nouvelles perspectives justifiant l'intérêt thérapeutique de la SHF dans la maladie de Parkinson.

Submitted by Rodrigo Martins Cruz (rodrigo.cruz@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2015-02-19T13:34:45Z No. of bitstreams: 5 fer.pdf: 3531496 bytes, checksum: da51c0e714843d62cd73ad67737d85b2 (MD5) license_url: 52 bytes, checksum: 3d480ae6c91e310daba2020f8787d6f9 (MD5) license_text: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) license.txt: 2110 bytes, checksum: b4c884761e4c6c296ab2179d378436d4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Martins Cruz (rodrigo.cruz@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2015-02-20T10:58:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 5 fer.pdf: 3531496 bytes, checksum: da51c0e714843d62cd73ad67737d85b2 (MD5) license_url: 52 bytes, checksum: 3d480ae6c91e310daba2020f8787d6f9 (MD5) license_text: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) license.txt: 2110 bytes, checksum: b4c884761e4c6c296ab2179d378436d4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-20T10:58:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 5 fer.pdf: 3531496 bytes, checksum: da51c0e714843d62cd73ad67737d85b2 (MD5) license_url: 52 bytes, checksum: 3d480ae6c91e310daba2020f8787d6f9 (MD5) license_text: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) license.txt: 2110 bytes, checksum: b4c884761e4c6c296ab2179d378436d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-20 / L-Dopa ? convertida em dopamina no c?rebro e continua a ser a droga mais amplamente prescrita no tratamento da doen?a de Parkinson. Um sens?vel e seletivo sensor foi desenvolvido para a determina??o voltam?trica de L-Dopa em formula??es farmac?uticas usando um Eletrodo de Grafite Pirol?tico de Plano Basal (EGPPB) modificado com cloro(piridil)bis(dimetilglioximato) de cobalto (III) (Co(DMG)2ClPy), um modelo sint?tico da vitamina B12, adsorvido em Nanotubos de Carbono de Paredes M?ltiplas (NCPM), o qual foi denominado EGPPB/NCPM/Co(DMG)2ClPy. Microscopia Eletr?nica de Varredura e Espectroscopia no Infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier foram utilizadas para caracterizar os materiais. A oxida??o de L-Dopa utilizando o EGPPB/NCPM/Co(DMG)2ClPy foi investigada por Voltametria C?clica, Amperometria, Voltametria de Pulso Diferencial e Voltametria de Onda Quadrada. O eletrodo modificado apresentou uma excelente atividade catal?tica para a oxida??o de L-Dopa em 180 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. Os par?metros que influenciam a resposta do eletrodo foram investigados. As condi??es ?timas foram encontradas para o eletrodo modificado com 100 ?mol L-1 de Co(DMG)2ClPy, 2 mg mL-1 de NCPM, em solu??o tamp?o fosfato na concentra??o de 0,2 mol L-1 (pH 7,4). O n?mero de el?trons envolvidos na oxida??o de L-Dopa foi igual a dois. As correntes de pico voltam?tricas apresentaram uma resposta linear para a concentra??o de L-Dopa no intervalo de 3 a 100 ?mol L-1 para n = 12 (R = 0,9992), com sensibilidade, limite de detec??o e limite de quantifica??o iguais a 4,43 ?A cm-2/?mol L-1, 0,86 e 2,87 ?mol L-1, respectivamente. O Desvio Padr?o Relativo para 10 determina??es de solu??o 50 ?mol L-1 de L-Dopa foi de 1,63%. Os resultados obtidos para a determina??o de L-Dopa em formula??es farmac?uticas est?o de acordo com o m?todo de compara??o oficial. Estudos de adi??o e recupera??o do analito foram realizados para avaliar a exatid?o do m?todo e verificou-se que foi poss?vel uma porcentagem de recupera??o entre 99,4 e 101,5% para a L-Dopa. Portanto, o sensor desenvolvido pode ser aplicado com sucesso para a determina??o do referido f?rmaco em medicamentos. / Disserta??o (Mestrado) ? Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Qu?mica, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 2011. / ABSTRACT L-Dopa is converted to dopamine in the brain and remains the most widely prescribed drug in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. A sensitive and selective method was developed for the voltammetric determination of L-Dopa in pharmaceutical formulations using a Basal Plane Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode (BPPGE) modified with chloro(pyridil)bis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(III) (Co(DMG)2ClPy), synthetic model of vitamin B12, absorbed on Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT), denominated MWCNT/Co(DMG)2ClPy/BPPGE. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were used to characterize the materials. The oxidation of L-Dopa using the MWCNT/Co(DMG)2ClPy/BPPGE was investigated by Cyclic Voltammetry, Amperometry, Differential Pulse Voltammetry and Square Wave Voltammetry. The modified electrode showed an excellent catalytic activity for L-Dopa oxidation at 180 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. The parameters that influence on the electrode response were investigated. The optimum conditions were found to the modified electrode with 100 ?mol L-1 Co(DMG)2ClPy, 2 mg mL-1 MWCNT, in 0.2 mol L-1 phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4). The number of electrons involved in L-Dopa oxidation was two. Voltammetric peak currents showed a linear response for L-Dopa concentration in the range from 3 up to 100 ?mol L-1 for n = 12 (R = 0.9992), with a sensitivity, detection limit and quantification limit of 4.43 ?A cm-2/?mol L-1, 0.86 and 2.87 ?mol L-1, respectively. The Relative Standard Deviation for 10 determinations of 50 ?mol L-1 L-Dopa was 1.63%. The results obtained for L-Dopa determination in pharmaceutical formulations was in accordance with the official method of comparison. Studies of addition and recovery of the analyte were carried out to evaluate the error of the method and was verified a recovery percentage between 99.4 and 101.5% for L-Dopa. Therefore the sensor developed can be applied successfully to the determination of this drug in pharmaceuticals formulations.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of phenolics content and inoculation with soil extract on microbial respiration, on the phenoloxidase (PhOx), peroxidase (PerOx) and newly Mn-peroxidase (MnP) activity in two dominating litter samples (Calamagrostis villosa and Picea abies) differing in phenolics content from Plešné and Čertovo lake watersheds. At PhOx and PerOx activity, the dependence on incubation temperature with L-DOPA was estimated. PhOx and MnP activities significantly increased with higher content of hardly decomposable phenolics, but decreased with water extractable phenolics content. Inoculation with soil extract had no influence on microbial respiration, enzyme activity, nor on decomposition of phenolics. Microbial respiration was significantly higher at 10°C, but average enzyme activity was comparable at 0 and 10°C. PhOx activities had temperature optimum higher than 22°C, while PerOx activities had temperature optimum at 0 - 15°C.

No description available.

La maladie de Parkinson (MP) est un trouble dégénératif du système nerveux central qui affecte principalement les personnes âgées. Son principal traitement est la L-3,4-dihydroxyphénylalanine (L-DOPA), qui malheureusement provoque des problèmes handicapants tels que les dyskinésies et les psychoses à la suite d’une administration chronique. Peu de traitements sont disponibles pour réduire efficacement ces complications et certains interfèrent avec l’effet thérapeutique de la L-DOPA, alors que d’autres induisent des effets secondaires potentiellement dangereux pour la vie des patients. Il est donc crucial de découvrir de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques. Des études cliniques et précliniques ont montré que le site de liaison de la glycine du récepteur N-méthyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) est une cible thérapeutique prometteuse pour les problèmes moteurs de la MP. En effet, la stimulation de celui-ci augmenterait la transmission glutamatergique via la voie hyperdirecte des ganglions de la base, et par conséquent favoriserait l’inhibition du thalamus qui mènera à une moindre activation du cortex moteur, et donc possiblement moins de dyskinésies. De plus, puisque l’activation des récepteurs NMDA le long de la voie nigro-striée augmente la libération de dopamine dans le striatum, il est possible qu’un effet antiparkinsonien soit également obtenu. L’objectif de cette étude est de caractériser les potentiels anti-dyskinétique, antipsychotique et antiparkinsonien de l’inhibition sélective du transporteur de la glycine 1 (GlyT1) chez deux modèles animaux de la MP. Le chapitre 1 décrit le développement et la validation d’une nouvelle méthode de détection pour quantifier les niveaux plasmatiques du bitopertin, un inhibiteur du GlyT1. Le chapitre 2 détermine le profil pharmacocinétique du bitopertin chez le rat, à la suite d’une administration sous-cutanée. Le chapitre 3 évalue l’effet du bitopertin sur la dyskinésie et le parkinsonisme chez le rat hémi-parkinsonien, montrant une amélioration significative de la dyskinésie et du parkinsonisme. Le chapitre 4 évalue l’effet de l’ALX-5407, un inhibiteur du GlyT1, sur la dyskinésie et les comportements de types psychotiques chez le ouistiti lésé au 1-méthyl-4-phényl-1,2,3,6-tétrahydropyridine (MPTP), démontrant une amélioration de la sévérité globale de la dyskinésie, des comportements de type psychose et du parkinsonisme. Dans l’ensemble, ces résultats fournissent des données convaincantes pour soutenir le potentiel thérapeutique de l’inhibition de GlyT1. De plus, le bitopertin a fait l’objet d’essais cliniques approfondies pour le traitement de la schizophrénie, et a présenté un profil de sécurité et de tolérance bien documenté, ce qui en fait un candidat attrayant pour une nouvelle étude clinique dans le traitement de la MP. / Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that primarily affects older people. Its main treatment is L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which unfortunately causes disabling problems such as dyskinesias and psychosis following chronic administration. Few treatments are available to effectively reduce these complications, and some interfere with the therapeutic effect of L-DOPA, while others induce potentially life-threatening side effects. It is therefore crucial to discover new therapeutic targets. Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that the glycine site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a promising therapeutic target for motor problems in PD. Indeed, this may increase glutamatergic transmission via the hyperdirect pathway of the basal ganglia, and consequently promote inhibition of the thalamus, which will lead to minimal activation of the motor cortex, and therefore possibly less dyskinesia. Additionally, since activation of NMDA receptors along the nigrostriatal pathway increases dopamine release in the striatum, it is possible that an antiparkinsonian effect is also achieved. The objective of this study is to characterize the anti-dyskinetic, antipsychotic and antiparkinsonian potentials of selective inhibition of glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) in two animal models of PD. Chapter 1 describes the development and validation of a new detection method to quantify plasma levels of bitopertin, a GlyT1 inhibitor. Chapter 2 determines the pharmacokinetic profile of bitopertin in rats, following subcutaneous administration. Chapter 3 evaluates the effect of bitopertin on dyskinesia and parkinsonism in hemi-parkinsonian rats, showing a significant improvement in dyskinesia and parkinsonism. Chapter 4 evaluates the effect of ALX-5407, a GlyT1 inhibitor, on dyskinesia and psychotic-like behaviours in marmosets injured with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), demonstrating an improvement in the overall severity of dyskinesia, psychosis-like behaviours, and parkinsonism. Taken together, these results provide compelling data to support the therapeutic potential of GlyT1 inhibition. Additionally, bitopertin has been extensively tested in clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia, and has demonstrated a well-documented safety and tolerability profile, making it an attractive candidate for further clinical study in the treatment of the PD.