Inhibitory effects of salmon calcitonin on the tail-biting and scratching behavior induced by substance P and three excitatory amino acids

The effects of salmon calcitonin on epileptic seizures, epileptogenesis, and postseizure hippocampal neuronal damage in pentylenetetrazole-induced epilepsy model in rats

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders that severely affect the life quality of many people worldwide. Excitatory-inhibitory mechanisms, oxidative stress, and also inflammation systems have been implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Recent studies have shown that salmon calcitonin (sCT) has positive effects on the nervous system. However, its relation with epilepsy is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of sCT on epileptic seizures, epileptogenesis, and postseizure hippocampal neuronal damage in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy model in rats. The study was performed in two steps. In the first step, the effect of sCT on epileptic seizures was evaluated by using electroencephalography (EEG) in fully kindled rats. In the second step, the effect of sCT on epileptogenesis was evaluated by using the kindling process. Glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured in the second group in the brain and serum. Hippocampal regions were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue to evaluate hippocampal neuronal damage histopathologically. Salmon calcitonin showed an antiepileptic effect in fully kindled rats and also prevented the development of epileptogenesis in the kindling process. Besides, sCT decreased glutamate and increased GABA levels. Furthermore, it reduced TBARS levels and increased SOD and CAT levels. On the other hand, it decreased TNF-α levels, IL-1 β levels, and IL-6 levels. Histopathologically, sCT decreased neuronal damage in all hippocampal regions. Our findings are the first preclinical report to show the positive effect of sCT on epileptic seizures and epileptogenesis. Further investigation is required to answer the questions raised about the probable mechanisms involved.

Paeoniflorin inhibits excitatory amino acid agonist-and high-dose morphine-induced nociceptive behavior in mice via modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

BACKGROUND

Pain, the most common reasons for physician consultation, is a major symptom in many medical conditions that can significantly interfere with a person's life quality and general functioning. Almost all painkillers have its untoward effects. Therefore, seeking for a safe medication for pain relieve is notable nowadays. Paeonia lactiflora is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine. Paeoniflorin is an active component found in Paeonia lactiflora, which has been reported to inhibit formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in mice. Aims of this present study were to investigate effects of paeoniflorin on excitatory amino acid agonist- or high-dose morphine-induced nociceptive behaviors in mice.

RESULTS

Paeoniflorin (100, 200, 500 nmol, i.c.v.) alone and combined with glutamatergic antagonists (MK-801 14.8 pmol, or NBQX 5 nmol, i.t.) inhibited nociception. Those agents also inhibited the clonic seizure-like excitation induced by high-dose morphine (250 nmol, i.t) in mice. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides of NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, NR2B significantly enhanced the inhibition of paeoniflorin on excitatory amino acid-and high-dose morphine-induced nociception. Docking energy data revealed that paeoniflorin had stronger binding activity in NR2A and NR2B than NR2C of NMDA receptors.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study indicate that paeoniflorin-induced inhibition of excitatory amino acid agonist- and high-dose morphine-induced nociceptive behaviors might be due to modulation of NMDA receptors, specifically the NR2B subunit.

Calcitonin microinjection into the periaqueductal gray impairs contextual fear conditioning in the rat

We have previously proposed that behavioral alterations induced by salmon calcitonin in the rat provide an animal model of depression. As depression is characterized by context-related anxiety, behavioral inhibition and alterations in memory processing, we tested the effects of microinjections of salmon calcitonin into the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) on contextual fear conditioning in the rat. In a first experiment, calcitonin or saline were microinjected into the PAG before the training phase and before the testing phase of a conditional fear testing procedure. In a second experiment, calcitonin or saline were injected before and immediately after the training phase. When given before the training phase, calcitonin had no effects on immediate postshock freezing but produced significant deficits in contextual freezing (24 h after footshock) in comparison with controls. When given immediately after the footshocks, calcitonin impaired contextual fear. These results suggest that calcitonin receptor stimulation in the PAG can alter the acquisition and consolidation of contextual fear behavior processes.

Neuronal mechanism of the inhibitory effect of calcitonin on N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced aversive behavior

To elucidate the mechanism of antinociceptive effects of calcitonin, we investigated whether receptor antagonists for various neurotransmitter receptors alter the inhibitory effect of calcitonin on intrathecally injected N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced aversive behavior in mice. Neither naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, phentolamine and benextramine, alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists, nor ritanserin, a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, inhibited the calcitonin-induced anti-aversive effects. Pindolol and (--)-propranolol, non-selective antagonists of beta-adrenoceptors and 5-HT1 receptors, 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2-phethalimido) butyl]-piperazine hydrobromide (NAN-190), a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, 3-tropanyl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate (MDL72222) and metoclopramide, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, significantly inhibited the calcitonin-induced anti-aversive effects. (--)-Bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, phaclofen and 5-aminovaleric acid, GABAB receptor antagonists, also attenuated the calcitonin-induced anti-aversive effects. These results suggest that beta-adrenoceptor, 5-HT1A, 5-HT3, GABAA and GABAB receptors, but not alpha-adrenoceptor, opioid nor 5-HT2A receptors, are involved in the inhibitory effect of calcitonin on intrathecally injected N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced aversive behavior in mice.