The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1994
Paul J Marangos, Encinitas, CA (US);
Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed for reducing excitotoxic damage to neurons, which can occur as a result of stroke, cardiac arrest, or other events or conditions. This method involves administering an aminoglycoside that suppresses the flow of calcium ions into neurons through N-type calcium channels. To be effective for such use, an aminoglycoside must suppress N-channel activity at a potency greater than streptomycin. Aminoglycosides which meet this criterion (which includes neomycin and Gentamicin) can suppress the depolarizing activation of neurons, which in turn controls the release of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that becomes an endogenous toxin under excitotoxic conditions. Numerous aminoglycosides were tested in in vitro screening tests using brain cell membrane fragments to evaluate N-channel blocking potency. Aminoglycosides with the highest N-channel blocking potency were then tested using (1) in vitro tests on hippocampal brain tissue, to evaluate recovery of neuronal activity after a period of oxygen deprivation; (2) in vivo tests to evaluate the control of induced seizures in intact adult mammals; and (3) in vivo tests to evaluate the reduction of brain damage due to surgically-induced ischemia in intact adult mammals. The results showed that (1) aminoglycosides which are more potent than streptomycin in blocking N-channel ion flow are effective in reducing excitotoxic brain damage, without causing undesired side effects, and (2) the effectiveness of all BBB-permeable aminoglycosides tested to date in preventing excitotoxic brain damage is directly correlated with their potency in suppressing N-channel activity. Evaluation of chemical structures also indicates a correlation between the number of primary amino groups on an aminoglycoside, and its potency as an N-channel blocker and neuroprotective agent.