Reversible antisense inhibition of Shaker-like Kv1.1 potassium channel expression impairs associative memory in mouse and rat

Long-term memory is thought to be subserved by functional remodeling of neuronal circuits. Changes in the weights of existing synapses in networks might depend on voltage-gated potassium currents. We therefore studied the physiological role of potassium channels in memory, concentrating on the Shaker-like Kv1.1, a late rectifying potassium channel that is highly localized within dendrites of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal and dentate gyrus granular cells. Repeated intracerebroventricular injection of antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide to Kv1.1 reduces expression of its particular intracellular mRNA target, decreases late rectifying K+ current(s) in dentate granule cells, and impairs memory but not other motor or sensory behaviors, in two different learning paradigms, mouse passive avoidance and rat spatial memory. The latter, hippocampal-dependent memory loss occurred in the absence of long-term potentiation changes recorded both from the dentate gyrus or CA1. The specificity of the reversible antisense targeting of mRNA in adult animal brains may avoid irreversible developmental and genetic background effects that accompany transgenic "knockouts".

Antinociception induced by SM 32 depends on a central cholinergic mechanism

The antinociceptive effect of SM 32 was examined in mice by using the hot-plate (10-40 mg kg(-1) i.p; 3-30 microg per mouse i.c.v.) and abdominal constriction (10-30 mg kg(-1) i.p) tests. In the antinociceptive dose-range, SM 32 did not impair mouse spontaneous motility and motor coordination evaluated respectively by the Animex and rota-rod tests. The increase in the pain threshold produced by SM 32 was prevented by dicyclomine, pirenzepine and hemicholinium-3 but not by naloxone and CGP 35348. In vitro experiments showed that the SM 32 amplified electrically- and nicotine-evoked guinea-pig ileum contractions. On the basis of the above data, it can be postulated that SM 32 exerts its antinociceptive effect through a potentiation of central cholinergic transmission.

The central cholinergic system has a role in the antinociception induced in rodents and guinea pigs by the antimigraine drug sumatriptan

The antinociceptive effect of the antimigraine drug sumatriptan was assessed in mice and rats (hot-plate, abdominal constriction and paw-pressure tests) and in guinea pigs (paw-pressure test). The ACh extracellular concentration also was detected in the hippocampus of freely moving rats by microdialysis experiments. Antinociception was induced by sumatriptan administered both parenterally (5-10 mg.kg-1 i.v.; 10-30 mg.kg-1 i.p.) and i.c.v. (50-100 micrograms per mouse). Sumatriptan antinociception was potentiated by physostigmine (0.05 mg.kg-1 i.p.) and was prevented by the muscarinic antagonist atropine (5 mg.kg-1 i.p.), the ACh depletor HC-3 (1 micrograms per mouse i.c.v.) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine1A antagonist 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2 phthalimido)butyl] piperazine (0.5 mg.kg-1 i.p.). Naloxone, 3-aminopropyl-diethoxy-methyl-phosphinc acid, 2-methoxy-4-amino-5-chlorobenzoic acid 2-(diethylamino) ethyl ester and reserpine, administered in doses suitable for blocking analgesi induced by morphine, baclofen, 5-hydroxytryptamine4 agonist and clomipramine, respectively, did not modify sumatriptan antinociception. Sumatriptan, administered in the range of antinociceptive doses, was able to increase the level of ACh present in extracellular hippocampal space. On the basis of these findings we can deduce that sumatriptan was able to induce antinociception by increasing cholinergic activation in the CNS. Such activation, as indicated by the antagonism exerted by 1-(2-methoxyl-phenyl)-4-[4-(2 pethalimido)butyl]piperazine, may depend on stimulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine1A autoreceptors. It remains to be clarified whether the antimigraine activity of sumatriptan in humans is totally dependent on cranial vessel vasoconstriction of whether its central cholinergic antinociception also plays a role.

Effect of pertussis toxin on morphine, diphenhydramine, baclofen, clomipramine and physostigmine antinociception

The effect of pretreatment with pertussis toxin at the doses of 0.25 and 0.50 micrograms per mouse i.c.v. on the analgesic effect produced by morphine (7 mg kg-1 s.c.), baclofen (4 mg kg-1 s.c.), diphenhydramine (20 mg kg-1 s.c.), clomipramine (25 mg kg-1 s.c.) and physostigmine (0.1-0.2 mg kg-1 s.c.) was investigated in the mouse hot-plate test. Seven days after a single injection of pertussis toxin, inhibition of morphine and diphenhydramine analgesia was observed, whereas 11 days after pertussis toxin pretreatment, baclofen- and clomipramine-induced antinociception was also reduced. By contrast, pertussis toxin had no effect on physostigmine-induced antinociception. The present results indicate that the activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins represents an important transduction step in the central analgesia induced by opioids, antihistaminics, GABAB (gamma-aminobutyric acid B) agonists and tricyclic antidepressants, but not by cholinomimetics.

Central cholinergic antinociception induced by 5HT4 agonists: BIMU 1 and BIMU 8

The antinociceptive effect of two 5-HT4 agonists, BIMU 1 and BIMU 8, were examined in mice and rats by using the hot-plate, abdominal constriction and paw-pressure tests. In both species, BIMU 1 (10-20 mg kg-1 s.c. and 40-60 mg kg-1 p.o. in mice; 20 mg kg-1 i.p. in rats) and BIMU 8 (20-30 mg kg-1 s.c. and 60 mg kg-1 p.o. in mice; 20 mg kg-1 i.p. in rats), produced significant antinociception which was prevented by atropine (5 mg kg-1 i.p.), hemicholinium-3 (1 microgram per mouse i.c.v.), SDZ 205-557 (10 mg kg-1 i.p.), GR 125487 (20 mg kg-1 i.p.) but not by naloxone (1 mg kg-1 i.p.), CGP 35348 (100 mg kg-1 i.p.) and reserpine (2 mg kg-1 i.p.). Moreover, BIMU 1 and BIMU 8 increase of pain threshold, is abolished by nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) lesions in rats. SDZ 205-557 and GR 125487 which totally antagonized BIMU 1 and BIMU 8 antinociception did not modify morphine (7 mg kg-1 s.c.) or baclofen (4 mg kg-1 s.c.) antinociception. Intracerebroventricular injection in mice of BIMU 1 (3 micrograms per mouse) and BIMU 8 (10 micrograms per mouse), doses which were largely ineffective by parenteral routes, induces an antinociception whose intensity equaled that obtainable s.c., i.p. or p.o. In the antinociceptive dose-range, neither 5HT4 agonist impaired mice motor coordination evaluated by rota-rod test. On the basis of the above data, it can be postulated that BIMU 1 and BIMU 8 exerted an antinociceptive effect mediated by a central amplification of cholinergic transmission.

Piracetam and aniracetam antagonism of centrally active drug-induced antinociception

The effects of the nootropic drugs piracetam and aniracetam on antinociception induced by baclofen, bicuculline, and picrotoxin and on baclofen-induced muscle relaxation were studied in mice. Antinociception was investigated using both the hot plate (thermal stimulus) and abdominal constriction (chemical stimulus) tests. Both behaviour inhibition and muscle relaxation were observed by using the rota-rod test. Piracetam (30 mg/kg, IP) and aniracetam (10 mg/kg, PO) reduced baclofen, bicuculline, and picrotoxin antinociception without modifying analgesia induced by non-GABAergic drugs such as morphine, physostigmine, clomipramine, and diphenhydramine. In this concentration range, piracetam, and aniracetam were also able to reduce the inhibition of rota-rod performance. At higher doses piracetam (100 mg/kg, IP) and aniracetam (100 mg/kg, PO) were able to completely prevent baclofen antinociception. However, when prevention of GABAergic antinociception was complete, piracetam and aniracetam were able to block non-GABAergic antinociception also. comparing the effects of piracetam and aniracetam with those exerted by the GABAB antagonist CGP 35348, a reduction of non-GABAergic analgesia was also observed using higher doses of CGP 35348 (2.5 micrograms per mouse ICV). The present results indicate that piracetam and aniracetam, by preventing both of the investigated effects of baclofen, have some selectivity against GABAB-mediated inhibition. The well-known activity of piracetam and aniracetam on learning and memory might, therefore, depend, at least in part, on the removal of inhibitory GABAB mechanisms that impair attention and cognitive functions.

S-(-)-ET 126: a potent and selective M1 antagonist in vitro and in vivo

The pharmacological profile of the competitive muscarinic antagonist S-(-)-alpha-(hydroxymethyl)benzeneacetic acid 1-methyl-4-piperidinyl ester (S-(-)-ET 126) was evaluated on M1 (rabbit vas deferens; pA2=8.99), M2 (rat left atrium; pA2=8.21) and M3 (rat ileum; pA2=6.84) muscarinic receptors in comparison with pirenzepine. The drug shows a subtype selectivity (M1/M2=8; M1/M3=178; M2/M3=22) that proposes it as a useful pharmacological tool for receptor studies. S-(-)-ET 126, like pirenzepine, prevents the antinociception induced by M1 agonists (McN-A-343 and AF-102B). Unlike pirenzepine and spirotramine, the compound is able to cross the blood brain barrier which makes it useful for in vivo investigations.

Presynaptic cholinergic modulators as potent cognition enhancers and analgesic drugs. 2. 2-Phenoxy-, 2-(phenylthio)-, and 2-(phenylamino)alkanoic acid esters

Further modifications of the leads ((R)-(+)-hyoscyamine and (p-chlorophenyl)propionic acid alpha-tropanyl ester), which show analgesic and nootropic activities as a consequence of increased central presynaptic ACh release, are reported. 2-Phenoxy- and 2-(phenylthio)alkanoic acid esters showed the best results. Several members of these classes possess analgesic properties which are comparable to that of morphine and at the same time are able to reverse dicyclomine-induced amnesia. Confirmation was found that the mechanism of action is due to an increase in ACh release at central muscarinic synapses and that both auto- and heteroreceptors controlling ACh release are very likely involved. According to the results obtained with (R)-(+)-hyoscyamine, analgesic activity is stereochemistry dependent, since the R-(+)-enantiomers are always more efficacious than the corresponding S-(-)-ones. On the basis of their potency and acute toxicity, compounds (+/-)-28 (SM21) and (+/-)-42 (SM32) were selected for further study.