Since the early 80s, the computer industry has undergone great expansion. Processors are becoming faster and more powerful. Power management issues in computing systems are becoming more and more complex and challenging. An evolution began when the high-performance Pentium processor was driven by a non-standard, less-than-5V power supply, instead of drawing its power from the 5V plane on the system board. A so-called Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) is put close to the processor in order to provide the power as quickly as possible. Nowadays, for desktop and workstation applications, VRM input voltage has moved to the 12V output of the silver box. In the meantime, microprocessors will run at very low voltage (below 1V), will consume up to 100A of current, and will have dynamics of about 400A/us. In the near future, VRM will be replaced with VRD because of the parasitic components effect. The specifications requirements for VRD are even more challenging than VRM. With this kind of tight tolerance, high current and fast current slew rate, transient response requirements for VRD design are very challenging, especially for step-down transient. During step-down transient, there is some additional energy stored in inductor. Traditional switching regulator like multi-phase buck can do nothing for this even by saturating the duty cycle to 0. All of the additional energy in inductor will be dumped into output cap and cause a large voltage spike at the output voltage. Even for step-up transient, traditional linear control like voltage loop control can't provide enough bandwidth because of the slow compensation and slow slew rate of the error amplifier. So the voltage drop is still quite large. Comparing with traditional linear controlled switching regulator such as voltage control and current control buck converter, active clamp has a lot of the advantages for the transient response. With proper design, active clamp can generate a very high bandwidth since there is no compensator needed in the control loop. Since active clamp bypasses inductor and is connected directly to the output cap, it can quickly source and sink current from the output cap even during the step-down transient and prevent overshooting of the output voltage. This is the biggest advantage for active clamp comparing with traditional linear control. In this thesis, a new active clamp structure is proposed. Several new concepts are proposed like non-linear Gm, built-in offset Gm, error signal feedback and AVP design. A one-channel buck converter with new active clamp and voltage loop control is implemented and verified using real transistors based on 0.5um CMOS process. / Master of Science

Since the early 80s, the computer industry has undergone great expansion. Processors are becoming faster and more powerful. Power management issues in computing systems are becoming more complex and challenging. An evolution began when the high-performance Pentium processor was driven by a non-standard, less-than-5V power supply, instead of drawing its power from the 5V plane on the system board. A so-called Voltage Regulator Module (VRM), is put close to the processor in order to provide the power as quickly as possible. Nowadays, for desktop and workstation applications, VRM input voltage has moved to the 12V output of the silver box. In the meantime, microprocessors will run at very low voltage (below 1V), will consume up to 100A of current, and will have dynamics of about 400A/us. This work presents an investigation of three 12V VRM topologies: the synchronous buck converter, the tapped-inductor buck converter and the active-clamp couple-buck converter. The limitations of today¡¯s synchronous buck approach are identified. The extreme duty cycle of the current topology makes it difficult to design an efficient VRM with decent transient response. The tapped-inductor buck and the active-clamp couple-buck converters are discussed as solutions. The transient response and efficiency of each type of converter are compared. Ripple cancellation is also addressed. The analytical and experimental results are presented: The tapped-inductor buck can improve the efficiency, but suffers a voltage spike, which nullifies its candidacy; the active-clamp couple-buck converter can improve the efficiency while maintaining good transient response, and it is therefore a good candidate for 12V VRMs. / Master of Science

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen in Deutschland führen die Todesursachenstatistik an (19,1 % 2013) und verursachen die höchsten Krankheitskosten (14,5 % 2008) (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2015a,b). Im Rahmen von ischämischen Ereignissen am Herzen kann es zu Rhythmusstörungen kommen. In der Therapie dieser Störungen werden traditionell klassische Antiarrhythmika mit Wirkort Ionenkanal eingesetzt, welche jedoch stets ein proarrhythmisches Potenzial aufweisen. Im Fokus der Forschung der letzten Jahre stehen deswegen Peptide wie AAP10 (Antiarrhythmisches Peptid 10), welche direkt an den Gap Junctions ansetzen. In Radioligandenbindungsstudien konnte gezeigt werden, dass Desipramin AAP10 von seinem Rezeptor verdrängen kann. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde der Einfluss von Desipramin auf die Gap Junction-Leitfähigkeit in adulten humanen atrialen Kardiomyozyten bestimmt (Jozwiak 2012). Die Bestimmung der Leitfähigkeit erfolgte durch die Technik des Double-Cell-Voltage-Clamp. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass Desipramin die elektrische Kopplung in humanen Kardiomyozyten, welche vorab durch CO2-induzierte Azidose partiell entkoppelt wurden, erhöht. Weiterhin wurde in der Mapping-Analyse mit dem Langendorff-System gezeigt, dass Desipramin in ischämischen Gebieten am ganzen Kaninchenherzen eine Reduktion der Homogenität und eine Steigerung der Dispersion verhindern kann. In anschließend hergestellten Western Blots aus Gewebeproben derselben Kaninchenherzen ließ sich eine verminderte Dephosphorylierung von Connexin 43 in ischämischen Gebieten unter Desipramin nachweisen. Ebenso vermag Desipramin eine Lateralisierung des Connexin 43 entlang der Zellmembran zu verhindern. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Desipramin die Wahrscheinlichkeit für das Auftreten von Herzrhythmusstörungen unter ischämischen Bedingungen signifikant verringern und damit möglicherweise zur Senkung der Morbidität und Mortalität von Herzkreislauferkrankungen beitragen kann.

Introdução: A acromegalia é uma doença rara, caracterizada pela produção aumentada de hormônio do crescimento, causada geralmente por um adenoma hipofisário, ocasionando uma série de comorbidades como apneia do sono e resistência insulínica que acarretam um aumento na mortalidade e redução da expectativa de vida. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o impacto da terapêutica da apneia do sono com um dispositivo de pressão positiva contínuas nas vias aéreas (CPAP) e avaliar o impacto desta terapêutica na resistência insulínica pela realização do clamp euglicêmico hiperinsulinêmico (CEH). Pacientes: De 156 acromegálicos regularmente atendidos na unidade de Neuroendocrinologia do HC-FMUSP, foram selecionados 12 indivíduos com apneia do sono de moderada a grave em uso de análogos da somatostatina (AS). Método: Os pacientes foram randomizados em dois grupos com seis integrantes. O grupo A iniciou o tratamento com CPAP, e o grupo B, um adesivo dilatador nasal com efeito de placebo. A avaliação basal incluiu a polissonografia, determinação do GH, IGF-1, HbA1c, ácidos graxos livres, lípides, CEH, bem como os índices de resistência periférica à insulina (HOMA, HOMA2 e QUICKI). Após 3 meses de tratamento, os pacientes foram reavaliados pelos mesmos exames, sendo trocado o tratamento entre os grupos e feita nova avaliação, após mais 90 dias. Resultados: Analisando os resultados finais de todos os pacientes que fizeram uso do CPAP, foi observada uma redução significante na resistência periférica à insulina, verificada pelo índice de sensibilidade derivado do clamp (ISCLAMP, pré e pós- CPAP, 3,83 versus 6,11, p=0,032). Esta redução não foi observada no grupo que fez uso do adesivo nasal (ISCLAMP, pré e pós-adesivo, 5,53 versus 5,19, p=0,455). Não houve diferença significante nos níveis de lípides, HbA1c nem nos índices de resistência periférica à insulina. Conclusão: O tratamento da apneia do sono moderada a grave com CPAP, em pacientes acromegálicos em uso de AS, levou a uma redução da resistência periférica à insulina aferida pelo CEH, dado não observado por meio dos índices HOMA, HOMA2 e QUICKI / Introduction. Acromegaly is a rare disease, characterized by the production of high GH levels usually by pituitary adenoma leading to comorbidities as sleep apnea and insulin resistance, bringing increase of mortality and life span reduction. Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of treatment of sleep apnea with a continuous positive air pressure device (CPAP) on the insulin resistance by performing the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (HEC). Patients: From 156 acromegalic patients regularly attended on Neuroendocrine Unit of the Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, 12 subjects on somatostatin analogs (SA) harboring moderate to severe sleep apnea were selected. Methods: Patients were randomized in two groups of six subjects. Group A started treatment with CPAP while group B started treatment using a nasal dilator adhesive with placebo effect. Basal assessment included polysomnography, determination of GH, IGF-1, HbA1c, free fat acids, lipids assays, HEC as well as insulin resistance indexes (HOMA, HOMA2 and QUICKI). Patients were reevaluated after three months of treatment by the same tests and then the treatment was switched between groups with new assessment 90 days later. Results: A significant reduction on insulin resistance determined by the clamp derived sensibility index was observed after assessing the final data of all patients on CPAP (SICLAMP, pre and post CPAP, 3,83 versus 6,11, p=0,032). This reduction was not seen in the nasal dilator adhesive group (SICLAMP, pre and post adhesive, 5,53 versus 5,19, p=0,455). There was no significant difference on lipids, HbA1c or on peripheral insulin resistance indexes. Conclusion: CPAP treatment of acromegalic patients on AS with moderate to severe sleep apnea leaded to significant reduction on peripheral insulin resistance assessed by the HEC. HOMA, HOMA2 and QUICK did not detect this data

A obesidade induz resistência à insulina que é um dos passos para o diabetes do tipo 2 e as doenças cardiovasculares. Neste panorama, o papel do tecido adiposo visceral é inquestionável, mas o mesmo não é verdade para o tecido adiposo subcutâneo, especialmente da região abdominal. Isto confirma a importância da análise da composição e distribuição do tecido adiposo no corpo para definir risco metabólico. Se o papel do tecido adiposo subcutâneo é objeto de controvérsias, mais ainda é o efeito da retirada do mesmo, através da dermolipectomia na sensibilidade à insulina, aferida pelo clamp. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da dermolipectomia abdominal na sensibilidade à insulina e nas adipocitocinas (adiponectina e leptina). Avaliamos 17 pacientes do sexo feminino, com idades entre 22 e 51 anos, obesas ou com sobrepeso. Todas eram ex-obesas mórbidas que haviam sido submetidas à gastrectomia parcial em Y de Roux, há no mínimo um ano antes da entrada no protocolo, com perda de pelo menos 30% do peso inicial, com peso estável (mas, ainda com grande quantidade de tecido subcutâneo abdominal). Destas, 12 concluíram o estudo, com realização do clamp euglicêmico hiperinsulinêmico, no início e três meses após a cirurgia plástica. O clamp teve duração total de três horas, com coletas seriadas de glicose e insulina a cada 10 minutos. A dose de infusão de insulina regular foi de 1 mU/kg/min, para elevar de forma aguda e mantida a insulinemia. No momento basal de cada teste foram coletadas amostras para dosagens bioquímicas, hormonais e para as adipocitocinas. A captação de glicose (valor M) foi calculada em mg de glicose por kg de peso corpóreo total por minuto, considerando os últimos trinta minutos do teste. O HOMA-IR também foi calculado. Antes de realizar o primeiro clamp, as pacientes realizaram o exame de DEXA (densitometria de corpo inteiro), todas no aparelho Hologic, o que permitiu a correlação da sensibilidade à insulina com a massa magra no antes da dermolipectomia. Considerando para análise estatística, as 12 pacientes, houve variação significativa de peso de 84 kg na fase pré para 81,8 kg na fase pós (p=0,015) e também de IMC (31,1 x 30,3 kg/m2, com p=0,017). Não houve variação de massa magra (46,4 x 44,7 kg, com p=0,119) nem de captação de glicose (p=0,742). Não houve tampouco variação do HOMA-IR (p=0,722) como era de se esperar, já que não houve variação de captação. Notamos que na fase pré a sensibilidade à insulina correlacionou-se diretamente com a massa magra (r=0,80; p=0,002) e inversamente com a idade (r=-0,71; p=0,10). Não houve diferença das adipocitocinas: leptina (p=0,739) e adiponectina (p=0,940) quando comparadas as fases antes e depois da dermolipectomia. Concluímos que a sensibilidade à insulina, aferida pelo clamp não se altera com a dermolipectomia abdominal, em mulheres ex-obesas mórbidas, embora ainda com sobrepeso ou obesidade e metabolicamente normais. A sensibilidade à insulina aumenta com a massa magra e diminui com a idade, após a dermolipectomia, nesta população estudada. / Obesity induces insulin resistance, which is one of the steps to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this scenario, the role of visceral adipose tissue is undoubted, but the same is not true for subcutaneous adipose tissue, especially in abdominal region. This confirms the importance of analysis of composition and distribution of adipose tissue in the whole body to define metabolic risk. If the role of adipose subcutaneous tissue is debatable, even more is the abdominal dermolipectomy impact on insulin sensitivity, measured by clamp. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of abdominal dermolipectomy on insulin sensitivity and adipocytokines (adiponectin and leptin). We evaluated 17 female patients, age range 22-51 years, obese or overweight. All patients were ex-morbid obese and had performed Roux en Y gastric bypass surgery, at least one year before the baseline, with lost of at least 30% of their initial body weight, with stable weight (but still with huge amount of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue). From these, 12 concluded the study, performing the clamp at the beginning of the protocol and three months after the plastic surgery. Clamp lasted three hours, with glucose and insulin samples drawn each ten minutes. Regular insulin infusion dose was 1 mU/kg/min to raise and sustain insulinaemia. At baseline from each test, samples were draw for biochemistry, hormones and adipocytokines. Glucose uptake (M-value) was calculated in mg of glucose, per kg of body weight per minute, considering the last thirty minutes. HOMA-IR was also calculated. Before underwent the first clamp, patients performed DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), all in the same equipment (Hologic), what enabled correlation of insulin sensitivity and fat free mass (FFM) in the first phase. Considering for statistical purposes the 12 patients, there was significant weight variation; from 84 kg to 81,8 kg (p=0,015) and also BMI variation from 31,1 x 30,3 kg/m2 (p=0,017). There was no FFM variation: 46,4 x 44,7 kg (p=0,119) neither glucose uptake (p=0,742). Even not of HOMA-IR (p=0,722) as expected, since there was not glucose uptake variation. In the first phase, insulin sensitivity was directly correlated with FFM (r=0,80; p=0,002) and inversely with age (r= - 0,71; p=0,10). There were no differences on adipocytokines: leptin (p=0,739) and adiponectin (p=0,940) before and after dermolipectomy. We conclude insulin sensitivity measured by clamp, was not modified by abdominal dermolipectomy in ex-morbid obese women, but still overwight or obese and metabolically healthy. Insulin sensitivity raises with FFM and lowers with age, after dermolipectomy, in this population.

L’amygdale est une structure du système nerveux central impliquée dans l’intégration des émotions comme la peur et l’anxiété. Des études ont également montré que l’amygdale peut moduler de façon positive ou négative la douleur par le biais des projections de son noyau de sortie, le noyau central de l’amygdale (CeA), sur les structures impliquées dans les contrôles nociceptifs descendants. Le complexe basolatéral de l’amygdale (BLA), placé en amont du noyau central, est intimement connecté à ce dernier et peut ainsi réguler son fonctionnement. Les données obtenues au cours de ma thèse ont montré l’existence d’un contrôle tonique amygdalien de la nociception et de la douleur, directement dépendant de l’équilibre entre l’excitation et l’inhibition au sein de la structure. Ainsi la modulation de l’une ou l’autre des neurotransmission influence directement la sortie douloureuse, chez des animaux sains ou neuropathiques. Par ailleurs, nous nous sommes également intéressés à l’étude précise du mode d’action d’une molécule anxiolytique non benzodiazépinique, l’étifoxine (EFX), et à son effet sur le comportement douloureux. Les résultats des injections d’EFX dans le BLA indiquent qu’elle induit une action analgésique chez les animaux neuropathiques, mais ne modifie pas les seuils de sensibilité des animaux sains. Cette action analgésique est dépendante de l’effet indirect neurostéroïdogène de l’EFX. Ceci, associé au fait que l’EFX ne présente pas ou peu d’effets secondaires, en fait une molécule particulièrement intéressante pour un traitement alternatif des douleurs neuropathiques. Dans une dernière partie, nous avons cherché à observer les mécanismes en jeu au niveau cellulaire lorsque l’EFX est appliquée sur les neurones du BLA. Ainsi, nous avons montré que l’EFX potentialise l’inhibition au sein de la structure, via trois mécanismes indépendants ; l’augmentation de la fréquence des courants post-synaptiques inhibiteurs miniatures (mCPSIs), l’augmentation de leur amplitude, et l’augmentation de leur constante de déactivation. Ces deux derniers effets sont dépendants de l’action neurostéroïdogène de l’EFX, tandis que l’effet sur la fréquence des mCPSIs est du à l’action de l’EFX sur le récepteur GABAA. Les résultats de ma thèse ont ainsi permis de montrer l’existence d’un contrôle tonique amygdalien de la douleur, dans le cadre d’animaux neuropathiques, mais également de la nociception, chez des animaux sains. Par ailleurs, la place du complexe basolatéral de l’amygdale, souvent peu prise en compte dans les études sur la douleur, a été redéfinie. Ce complexe doit être pris en considération dans le circuit de la douleur et son rôle de pilote du noyau central de l’amygdale ne doit pas être négligé. / The amygdala is a major control center of the emotions, but also integrates sensory, especially nociceptive information. Cortical afferents to the amygdala largely target its basolateral complex. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) then projects to the central amygdala nucleus, which in turn projects densely to the periaqueductal gray and thus can drive a behavioural output via the spinal cord. Data obtained during my thesis have shown that the balance between excitation and inhibition in the BLA triggers an tonic control of pain. Therefore modulating one of the neurotransmission directly influences the pain threshold of control or nociceptive mice. My thesis work also focused on the functioning of an anxiolytic and non benzodiazepinic drug ; Etifoxin (EFX). This molecule as a positive modulator of GABAA receptors and indirectly by increasing the synthesis of neurosteroids, also known as strong modulator of these receptors. In our team, we already showed that EFX has anti-nociceptive effects when injected intraperitonealy in rats. Here we wanted to determine the action of EFX on pain descending control drive by BLA. We showed that EFX infusion in the BLA seems to be anti-nociceptive, inducing a recover of the pre-cuff mechanical threshold level. We also used a patch-clamp approach to study directly in vitro the modulation of the inhibitory synaptic transmission produced by EFX. We showed that EFX potentiate the inhibition in BLA neurons via different and complementary mechanisms. These potentiating effects are mostly dependent of a neurosteroidogenesis increase.

Ziel dieser Arbeit war die elektrophysiologische Charakterisierung des vor kurzem erstmals von NIESLER et al. (2003) klonierten humanen 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptors. Da dieser Rezeptor-Subtyp ausschließlich im Gastrointestinaltrakt exprimiert wird, ist ein Einfluss auf Nausea und Emesis sehr wahrscheinlich. Es stellt sich demnach die Frage, ob funktionelle Unterschiede zum homomeren 5-HT3A-Rezeptor und zum heteromeren 5-HT3A+B-Rezeptor bestehen, und ob auf molekularer Ebene unterschiedliche Wirkungen emetogener bzw. antiemetischer Pharmaka festzustellen sind. Um die Wirkmechanismen und die Interaktionen eines Pharmakons mit den 5-HT3-Rezeptor-Subtypen beurteilen zu können, erfordert dies genaue Kenntnisse über das biophysikalische Verhalten und die pharmakologische Sensitivität der 5-HT3-Rezeptor-Untereinheiten. Die Experimente erfolgten in-vitro an heterolog in HEK293-Zellen exprimierten Rezeptoren, wobei alleinig die 5-HT3A-Untereinheit in der Lage ist, funktionelle homopentamere Rezeptoren auszubilden. Die 5-HT3E- und 5-HT3B-Untereinheiten können nur zusammen mit der 5-HT3A-Untereinheit an die Zelloberfläche exprimiert werden und funktionelle heteropentamere Rezeptoren bilden. Im Verlauf der Untersuchungen hat sich herausgestellt, dass bei der Transfektion die 5-HT3E- und die 5-HT3B-Untereinheiten im Verhältnis zur 5-HT3A-Untereinheit signifikant schwächer exprimiert werden. Mittels der experimentellen Methode der Patch-Clamp Technik im „excised-patch“ („outside-out“)- und im Ganzzell-Modus war es möglich, die biophysikalischen und pharmakologischen Eigenschaften des heteromeren 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptors im Vergleich mit dem homomeren 5-HT3A-Rezeptor und dem heteromeren 5-HT3A+B-Rezeptor zu analysieren. Bei den Experimenten zur Grundcharakterisierung des humanen 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptor-Subtyps zeigte die Agonisten-Konzentrations-Wirkungskurve mit einem Hill-Koeffizienten von 1,0 einen deutlichen flacheren Verlauf als die Kurve des 5-HT3A-Rezeptor-Subtyps, die einen Hill-Koeffizienten von 1,5 aufwies. Dies spricht für eine geringe Agonisten-Bindungskooperativität des 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptors. Kein Unterschied zeigte sich allerdings in der Affinität zu 5-HT, da die EC50-Werte von beiden Rezeptor-Subtypen im Bereich von ca. 7 µM lagen. Aus dem biphasischen Verlauf der Kurve konnte der Rückschluss gezogen werden, dass bei der Transfektion des heteromeren 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptors der homomere 5-HT3A-Rezeptor parallel exprimiert wird. Dasselbe Verhalten wurde auch schon für den heteromeren 5-HT3A+B-Rezeptor beschrieben (WALSTAB et al. 2008). Bei der Charakterisierung eines heteromeren Rezeptor-Subtyps ergibt sich dadurch die Schwierigkeit, dessen Eigenschaften nicht eindeutig von denen des homomeren Rezeptors unterscheiden zu können. Des Weiteren konnte im Vergleich zum homomeren 5-HT3A-Rezeptor eine schnellere Desensibilisierungszeitkonstante des heteromeren 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptors nachgewiesen werden. Insgesamt deuten die beschriebenen Ergebnisse auf eine erhöhte Sensitivität des Rezeptors für Serotonin hin. Da der 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptor ausschließlich im Gastrointestinaltrakt exprimiert wird, könnte dies ein Hinweis auf eine Beteiligung dieses Rezeptors bei der Vermittlung von Emesis sein. Bei der pharmakologischen Charakterisierung wurden der partielle 5-HT3-Rezeptoragonist Tryptamin, der volle 5-HT3-Rezeptorantagonisten Tropisetron sowie die partiellen 5-HT3-Rezeptorantagonisten Metoclopramid, Tubocurarin, Mirtazapin und der Cannabinoid-Rezeptoragonist Anandamid, welcher eine emetogene Wirkung aufweist, untersucht. Auffällig war ein deutlich flacherer Verlauf der Konzentrations-Wirkungskurve von Metoclopramid (5-HT3A+E-Rezeptor: Hill-Koeffizient = -0,8; 5-HT3A-Rezeptor: Hill-Koeffizient = -1,2) und von Mirtazapin (5-HT3A+E-Rezeptor: Hill-Koeffizient = -0,9; 5-HT3A-Rezeptor: Hill-Koeffizient = -1,3) am heteromeren 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptor. Des Weiteren konnte für Mirtazapin am 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptor ein IC50-Wert von 8,4 nM im Vergleich zu 25,4 nM am 5-HT3A-Rezeptor festgestellt werden. Diese deutlich höhere Potenz von Mirtazapin am untersuchten heteromeren Rezeptor-Subtyp sowie die geringere Bindungskooperativität von Mirtazapin und Metoclopramid am 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptor, stellen einen interessanten Ansatz für eine effektive Pharmakotherapie gastrointestinaler Erkrankungen dar. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen erstmalig auf molekularer Ebene, die elektrophysiologischen Eigenschaften der humanen 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptoren sowie deren Beeinflussung durch emetogenen und antiemetische Pharmaka. Aufgrund der schwachen Expression der 5-HT3E-Untereinheit gilt es in Zukunft durch einen alternativen Weg der Transfektion, die Effizienz der Ausbeute von 5-HT3A+E-Rezeptoren zu erhöhen. / The aim of this doctor thesis was the electrophysiological characterization of the human 5-HT3A+E receptor which was recently cloned for the first time by NIESLER et al. (2003). Since the expression of this receptor subtype takes place exclusively in gastrointestinal tract, an influence on nausea and emesis is very likely. The question is if functional differences exist between homomeric 5-HT3A receptors and heteromeric 5-HT3A+B receptors, and whether different effects from emetic and antiemetic drugs can be detected at the molecular level. To assess the mechanisms and the interactions of a drug with the 5-HT3 receptor subtypes, knowledge of the biophysical characteristics and the pharmacological sensitivity of the 5-HT3 receptor subunit is required. The experiments were developed in-vitro on heterologous expressed receptors in HEK293-cells, whereat only the 5-HT3A subunit is able to form functional homopentameric receptors. The 5-HT3E and the 5-HT3B subunit can only be expressed on the cell surface and build functional heteropentameric receptors in combination with the 5-HT3A subunit. In the course of the investigations it became obvious that during transfection the 5-HT3E subunit and the 5-HT3B subunit are significantly lesser expressed than the 5-HT3A subunit. Using the patch-clamp technique in the excised-patch (outside-out) and whole-cell configuration it was possible to analyse the pharmacological and biophysical properties of the heteromeric 5-HT3A+E receptor compared with the homomeric 5-HT3A-receptor and the heteromeric 5-HT3A+B receptor. During the characterisation of the human 5-HT3A+E receptor subtype, the agonist concentration-response curve with the hillslope of 1,0 showed a significant flatter course than the graph of the 5-HT3A receptor subtype with a hillslope of 1,5. This indicates a diminished agonist binding-cooperativeness of the 5-HT3A+E receptor. No difference could be detected in the affinity to 5-HT, since the EC50 values of both receptor-subtypes were at the range of 7 µM. The biphasic course of the graph showed that by transfection of the heteromeric 5-HT3A+E receptor the homomeric 5-HT3A-receptor is expressed parallel. The same properties were described also for the 5-HT3A+B receptor (WALSTAB et al. 2008). Therefore it is difficult to distinguish the properties of a homomeric receptor by characterisation of a heteromeric receptor subtype. Furthermore, a faster desensitization of the heteromeric 5-HT3A+E-receptor could be demonstrated in comparison to homomeric 5-HT3A-receptor. Overall, the results described above indicate an increased sensitivity to the receptor for serotonin. As the 5-HT3A+E receptor is expressed exclusively in the gastro-intestinal tract, this could be an indication of involvement of this receptor in the mediation of emesis. During the pharmacological characterisation the partial 5-HT3 receptor agonist tryptamine, the full 5-HT3 receptor antagonist tropisetron as well as the partial 5-HT3 receptor antagonists metoclopramide, tubocurarin, mirtazapin and the cannabinoid receptor agonist anandamide, which has an emetic effect, were examined. The agonist concentration-response curve of metoclopramide (5-HT3A+E receptor: hillslope = -0,8; 5-HT3A receptor: hillslope = -1,2) and of mirtazapin (5-HT3A+E receptor: hillslope = -0,9; 5-HT3A receptor: hillslope = -1,3) showed a significant flatter course at the 5-HT3A+E receptor. Mirtazapin has an IC50 value of 8,4 nM at the 5-HT3A+E receptor in comparison to 25,4 nM at the 5-HT3A receptor. This significant higher potency of mirtazapin at the heteromeric 5-HT3 receptor subtype and the decreased binding-cooperativeness of mirtazapin and meteclopramide at the 5-HT3A+E receptor represent interesting approaches for an effective pharmacotherapy for gastrointestinal diseases. For the first time the results of this thesis showed the electrophysiological properties of the human 5-HT3A+E receptors and their interference by emetic and antiemetic drugs on the molecular level. Due to the decreased expression of 5-HT3E subunit, the goal for the future is to find an alternative way of transfection which increases the rate of yield for the 5-HT3A+E receptors.

Neurotransmitter release at presynaptic terminals is a complex process involving calcium ion influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV). In addition to their role as entry points through which calcium influx may occur, CaV are now understood to be fundamental components of a common release-site complex that is highly adapted for modulation. Consistent with this model, I investigated mechanisms of modulating a presynaptic calcium channel, CaV2.2, via a heterotrimeric G-protein pathway. Using the patch-clamp technique, I demonstrated in chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons that the slow kinetics of G-protein inhibition of CaV2.2 via GTPgammaS were limited by the rate of GDP dissociation from the G-protein nucleotide binding site. In addition, I investigated the role of G-protein regulation of CaV2.2 currents evoked by action potential-like stimuli. Here, I characterized an inhibited current that was advanced in time with respect to uninhibited controls. These currents exhibited a shorter latency to current activation and faster deactivation. These findings may have important physiological ramifications on signal transduction and timing. In addition to G-protein regulation, presynaptic CaV2.2 have been demonstrated to exhibit a resistance to voltage-dependent inactivation (VDI), a property thought to be important in determining channel availability and synaptic excitability. I demonstrated a role for dynamic palmitoylation in conferring resistance to VDI in presynaptic terminals of the chick ciliary ganglion. Using tunicamycin, an inhibitor of palmitoylation, I induced a hyperpolarizing shift in the steady-state-inactivation (SSI) profile of presynaptic CaV2.2. Finally, I examined the role of a CaV interacting protein, Munc18, as a potential regulator of CaV. I probed for alterations in CaV2.2 function in DRG neurons that had been transfected with Munc18 or Munc18 siRNA. Despite the intimate interaction between Munc18 and CaV2.2, no major effects on the fundamental characteristics of CaV2.2 function were observed. However, a hyperpolarizing shift in the inactivation profile of CaV2.2 was determined in DRG neurons in which Munc18 was knocked down. It is not clear if this was a direct consequence of Munc18 perturbation.

Neurotransmitter release at presynaptic terminals is a complex process involving calcium ion influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV). In addition to their role as entry points through which calcium influx may occur, CaV are now understood to be fundamental components of a common release-site complex that is highly adapted for modulation. Consistent with this model, I investigated mechanisms of modulating a presynaptic calcium channel, CaV2.2, via a heterotrimeric G-protein pathway. Using the patch-clamp technique, I demonstrated in chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons that the slow kinetics of G-protein inhibition of CaV2.2 via GTPgammaS were limited by the rate of GDP dissociation from the G-protein nucleotide binding site. In addition, I investigated the role of G-protein regulation of CaV2.2 currents evoked by action potential-like stimuli. Here, I characterized an inhibited current that was advanced in time with respect to uninhibited controls. These currents exhibited a shorter latency to current activation and faster deactivation. These findings may have important physiological ramifications on signal transduction and timing. In addition to G-protein regulation, presynaptic CaV2.2 have been demonstrated to exhibit a resistance to voltage-dependent inactivation (VDI), a property thought to be important in determining channel availability and synaptic excitability. I demonstrated a role for dynamic palmitoylation in conferring resistance to VDI in presynaptic terminals of the chick ciliary ganglion. Using tunicamycin, an inhibitor of palmitoylation, I induced a hyperpolarizing shift in the steady-state-inactivation (SSI) profile of presynaptic CaV2.2. Finally, I examined the role of a CaV interacting protein, Munc18, as a potential regulator of CaV. I probed for alterations in CaV2.2 function in DRG neurons that had been transfected with Munc18 or Munc18 siRNA. Despite the intimate interaction between Munc18 and CaV2.2, no major effects on the fundamental characteristics of CaV2.2 function were observed. However, a hyperpolarizing shift in the inactivation profile of CaV2.2 was determined in DRG neurons in which Munc18 was knocked down. It is not clear if this was a direct consequence of Munc18 perturbation.