0000000000924378
AUTHOR
Julianna Kardos
Dimerization of (+)-Lysergic Acid Esters
Dimer isomer mixtures, characterized by a bridgehead C8-C8' bond, (6a-7a; 6b-7b) were obtained from (+)-lysergic acid methyl or ethyl ester (1b; 1c) in a solution of methanol or ethanol. The isomers were separated, and their structures were determined by detailed NMR measurements and X-ray analysis. Density functional theory was applied to provide insight into the reaction mechanism. Based on an extended examination and the theoretical calculations, a plausible reaction sequence leading to dimers is also presented. The proposed mechanism has been verified by detecting the formation of the superoxide radical anion (O 2 * -).
Astrocyte sodium signaling and the regulation of neurotransmission.
The transmembrane Na(+) concentration gradient is an important source of energy required not only to enable the generation of action potentials in excitable cells, but also for various transmembrane transporters both in excitable and non-excitable cells, like astrocytes. One of the vital functions of astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) is to regulate neurotransmitter concentrations in the extracellular space. Most neurotransmitters in the CNS are removed from the extracellular space by Na(+) -dependent neurotransmitter transporters (NeuTs) expressed both in neurons and astrocytes. Neuronal NeuTs control mainly phasic synaptic transmission, i.e., synaptically induced transient pos…