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Gerami SS, Ebrahimi-Ghiri M, Khakpai F, Zarrindast MR. Antidepressive synergism between crocin and D-AP5 in acute restraint-stressed mice. Behav Pharmacol 2024; 35:327-337. [PMID: 39051912 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that crocin rescues stress-induced depressive symptoms in mice via stimulation of hippocampal neurogenesis. Glutamate modulators mainly involving N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs) have highlighted a role in neural development, synaptic plasticity, and depression. The research presented here was designed to appraise the interaction between NMDAR agents and crocin on depressive-related behaviors in the NMRI male mice exposed to acute restraint stress (ARS) for a period of 4 h. The mice were submitted to the splash test, forced swimming test, and tail suspension test to evaluate depressive-like behavior. The ARS decreased the grooming duration in the splash test and increased immobility time in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test, suggesting a depressive-like phenotype. NMDA (0.25 and 0.5 μg/mouse, intracerebroventricular) did not alter depression-related profiles in both non-acute restraint stress (NARS) and ARS mice, while the same doses of NMDAR antagonist D-AP5 potentiated the antidepressive-like activities in the ARS mice compared with the NARS mice. Moreover, a low dose of NMDA did not change depression-related parameters in the crocin-treated NARS or ARS mice, while D-AP5 enhanced the crocin response in the NARS and ARS mice. Isobologram analysis noted a synergism between crocin and D-AP5 on antidepressive-like behavior in the NARS and ARS mice. Collectively, the combination of crocin and D-AP5 was shown to mitigate depression symptoms and can be potentially used for the treatment of depression disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana-Sadat Gerami
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran
| | | | - Fatemeh Khakpai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
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2
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Yan C, Liu Z. The role of periaqueductal gray astrocytes in anxiety-like behavior induced by acute stress. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 720:150073. [PMID: 38754161 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes in the central nervous system play a vital role in modulating synaptic transmission and neuronal activation by releasing gliotransmitters. The 5-HTergic neurons in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) are important in anxiety processing. However, it remains uncertain whether the regulation of astrocytic activity on vlPAG 5-HTergic neurons is involved in anxiety processing. Here, through chemogenetic manipulation, we explored the impact of astrocytic activity in the PAG on the regulation of anxiety. To determine the role of astrocytes in the control of anxiety, we induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice through foot shock and investigated their effects on synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability in vlPAG 5-HTergic neurons. Foot shock caused anxiety-like behaviors, which were accompanied with the increase of the amplitude and frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), the area of slow inward currents (SICs), and the spike frequency of action potentials (AP) in vlPAG 5-HTergic neurons. The chemogenetic inhibition of vlPAG astrocytes was found to attenuate stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors and decrease the heightened synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability of vlPAG 5-HTergic neurons. Conversely, chemogenetic activation of vlPAG astrocytes triggered anxiety-like behaviors, enhanced synaptic transmission, and increased the excitability of vlPAG 5-HTergic neurons in unstressed mice. In summary, this study has provided initial insights into the pathway by which astrocytes influence behavior through the rapid regulation of associated neurons. This offers a new perspective for the investigation of the biological mechanisms underlying anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanting Yan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 Chang'an South Road, Xi'an, 710062, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, 555 Qiangye Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 Chang'an South Road, Xi'an, 710062, China.
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3
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Werle I, Nascimento LMM, Dos Santos ALA, Soares LA, Dos Santos RG, Hallak JEC, Bertoglio LJ. Ayahuasca-enhanced extinction of fear behaviour: Role of infralimbic cortex 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 1A receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:1671-1689. [PMID: 38320596 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Ayahuasca (AYA) is a botanical psychedelic with promising results in observational and small clinical trials for depression, trauma and drug use disorders. Its psychoactive effects primarily stem from N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). However, there is a lack of research on how and where AYA acts in the brain. This study addressed these questions by examining the extinction of aversive memories in AYA-treated rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We focused on the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, as DMT exhibits a high affinity for both of them, along with the infralimbic cortex in which activity and plasticity play crucial roles in regulating the mnemonic process under analysis. KEY RESULTS A single oral treatment with AYA containing 0.3 mg·kg-1 of DMT increased the within-session extinction of contextual freezing behaviour without affecting its recall. This protocol, when repeated twice on consecutive days, enhanced extinction recall. These effects were consistent for both 1- and 21-day-old memories in males and females. AYA effects on fear extinction were independent of changes in anxiety and general exploratory activity: AYA- and vehicle-treated animals showed no differences when tested in the elevated plus-maze. The 5-HT2A receptor antagonist MDL-11,939 and the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 infused into the infralimbic cortex respectively blocked within- and between-session fear extinction effects resulting from repeated oral administration of AYA. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings highlight complementary mechanisms by which AYA facilitates the behavioural suppression of aversive memories in the rat infralimbic cortex. These results suggest potential beneficial effects of AYA or DMT in stress-related disorders.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Fear/drug effects
- Fear/physiology
- Male
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A/metabolism
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A/drug effects
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/metabolism
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/drug effects
- Extinction, Psychological/drug effects
- Rats
- Banisteriopsis/chemistry
- Hallucinogens/pharmacology
- Hallucinogens/administration & dosage
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Pyridines/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Werle
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Laura M M Nascimento
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Aymee L A Dos Santos
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Luciane A Soares
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Rafael G Dos Santos
- Departamento de Neurociências e Comportamento, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jaime E C Hallak
- Departamento de Neurociências e Comportamento, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology-Translational Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro J Bertoglio
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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Shayan E, Maheri F, Aflaki F, Mousavi SE, Zarrindast MR, Fakhraei N, Rezayat Sorkhabadi SM, Shushtarian SMM. Synergistic effects of citicoline and silymarin nanomicelles in restraint stress-exposed mice. Behav Brain Res 2024; 464:114929. [PMID: 38428646 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of citicoline and silymarin nanomicelles (SMnm) in repeated restraint stress (RRS). METHOD Mice were exposed to RRS for four consecutive days, 2 hrs. daily. On day 5 of the study, SMnm (25 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and citicoline (25 and 75 mg/kg), and a combination of them (25 mg/kg, i.p.) were initiated. On day 18, anxiety-like behavior, behavioral despair, and exploratory behavior were evaluated. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus were dissected measuring brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) through Western Blot and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS In RR-exposed mice, anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) was enhanced by reductions in open arm time (OAT%) P < 0.001, and open arm entry (OAE%) P < 0.001. In the forced swimming test (FST), the immobility increased P < 0.001 while the swimming and climbing reduced P < 0.001. In the open field test (OFT), general motor activity was raised P < 0.05. Further, body weights reduced P < 0.001, and tissue BDNF and pCREB expressions decreased P < 0.001 while TNF-α increased P < 0.001. Conversely, SMnm, citicoline and their combination could reduce anxiety-like behavior P < 0.001. The combination group reduced the depressive-like behaviors P < 0.001. Moreover, body weights were restored P < 0.001. Besides, BDNF and pCREB expressions increased while TNF-α reduced, P < 0.001. CONCLUSION The combination synergistically improved emotion-like behaviors, alleviating the inflammation and upregulating the hippocampal BDNF-mediated CREB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Shayan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Maheri
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aflaki
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Advance Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyedeh-Elaheh Mousavi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nahid Fakhraei
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Seyed-Mohammad-Masoud Shushtarian
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Advance Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Miciaccia M, Rizzo F, Centonze A, Cavallaro G, Contino M, Armenise D, Baldelli OM, Solidoro R, Ferorelli S, Scarcia P, Agrimi G, Zingales V, Cimetta E, Ronsisvalle S, Sipala FM, Polosa PL, Fortuna CG, Perrone MG, Scilimati A. Harmaline to Human Mitochondrial Caseinolytic Serine Protease Activation for Pediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Treatment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:135. [PMID: 38276008 PMCID: PMC10821046 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), affecting children aged 4-7 years, is a rare, aggressive tumor that originates in the pons and then spreads to nearby tissue. DIPG is the leading cause of death for pediatric brain tumors due to its infiltrative nature and inoperability. Radiotherapy has only a palliative effect on stabilizing symptoms. In silico and preclinical studies identified ONC201 as a cytotoxic agent against some human cancer cell lines, including DIPG ones. A single-crystal X-ray analysis of the complex of the human mitochondrial caseinolytic serine protease type C (hClpP) and ONC201 (PDB ID: 6DL7) allowed hClpP to be identified as its main target. The hyperactivation of hClpP causes damage to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and cell death. In some DIPG patients receiving ONC201, an acquired resistance was observed. In this context, a wide program was initiated to discover original scaffolds for new hClpP activators to treat ONC201-non-responding patients. Harmaline, a small molecule belonging to the chemical class of β-carboline, was identified through Fingerprints for Ligands and Proteins (FLAP), a structure-based virtual screening approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and a deep in vitro investigation showed interesting information on the interaction and activation of hClpP by harmaline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morena Miciaccia
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Francesca Rizzo
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.R.); (P.S.); (G.A.); (P.L.P.)
| | - Antonella Centonze
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Gianfranco Cavallaro
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling and Heterocyclic Compounds ModHet, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy;
| | - Marialessandra Contino
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Domenico Armenise
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Olga Maria Baldelli
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Roberta Solidoro
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Savina Ferorelli
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Pasquale Scarcia
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.R.); (P.S.); (G.A.); (P.L.P.)
| | - Gennaro Agrimi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.R.); (P.S.); (G.A.); (P.L.P.)
| | - Veronica Zingales
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padua, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy; (V.Z.); (E.C.)
| | - Elisa Cimetta
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padua, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy; (V.Z.); (E.C.)
| | - Simone Ronsisvalle
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy; (S.R.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Federica Maria Sipala
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy; (S.R.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Paola Loguercio Polosa
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.R.); (P.S.); (G.A.); (P.L.P.)
| | - Cosimo Gianluca Fortuna
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling and Heterocyclic Compounds ModHet, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy;
| | - Maria Grazia Perrone
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
| | - Antonio Scilimati
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.C.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (R.S.); (S.F.)
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Payamshad S, Khakpai F, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. Effect of citicoline and transcranial direct current stimulation on depressive-like behaviors in mice & quot. Behav Brain Res 2023; 450:114495. [PMID: 37182742 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent investigations revealed the positive role of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of depressive-like behavior & quot. Citicoline is a dietary supplement. It acts as a neuroprotective factor for the treatment of neurological disorders. The aim of this research was to evaluate a possible interaction between tDCS and citicoline on the modulation of depressive-like behavior s & quot in male mice. For tDCS, an electrode was surgically implanted in the left prefrontal of the brain of male mice & quot. Acute restraint stress was induced by movement restraint for 4h. Locomotor activity and depressive-like behaviors & quot were examined by open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). The results indicated that the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of citicoline, left prefrontal anodal tDCS, and co-treatment of citicoline and tDCS had no significant effect on locomotor activity. I.p. injection of citicoline (30mg/kg) decreased immobility time in the FST and TST, showing an antidepressant-like effect & quot. Moreover, the application of left prefrontal anodal tDCS (0.2mA) for 20min induced antidepressant-like effect & quot by reducing immobility time in the FST and TST. Co-administration of citicoline (7 and 15mg/kg) along with tDCS (0.1mA) decreased immobility time in the FST and TST, indicating an antidepressant-like effect & quot. Therefore, it can be concluded that administration of citicoline in combination with tDCS enhanced the efficacy of tDCS for remedy of depressive-like behaviors & quot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Payamshad
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Khakpai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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7
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Targeting inhibition of microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 by Harmaline: Strategy to combat Alzheimer's disease. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 224:188-195. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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8
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Interaction of lithium and sleep deprivation on memory performance and anxiety-like behavior in male Wistar rats. Behav Brain Res 2022; 428:113890. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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9
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Glavonic E, Mitic M, Adzic M. Hallucinogenic drugs and their potential for treating fear-related disorders: Through the lens of fear extinction. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:947-969. [PMID: 35165930 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Fear-related disorders, mainly phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, are highly prevalent, debilitating disorders that pose a significant public health problem. They are characterized by aberrant processing of aversive experiences and dysregulated fear extinction, leading to excessive expression of fear and diminished quality of life. The gold standard for treating fear-related disorders is extinction-based exposure therapy (ET), shown to be ineffective for up to 35% of subjects. Moreover, ET combined with traditional pharmacological treatments for fear-related disorders, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, offers no further advantage to patients. This prompted the search for ways to improve ET outcomes, with current research focused on pharmacological agents that can augment ET by strengthening fear extinction learning. Hallucinogenic drugs promote reprocessing of fear-imbued memories and induce positive mood and openness, relieving anxiety and enabling the necessary emotional engagement during psychotherapeutic interventions. Mechanistically, hallucinogens induce dynamic structural and functional neuroplastic changes across the fear extinction circuitry and temper amygdala's hyperreactivity to threat-related stimuli, effectively mitigating one of the hallmarks of fear-related disorders. This paper provides the first comprehensive review of hallucinogens' potential to alleviate symptoms of fear-related disorders by focusing on their effects on fear extinction and the underlying molecular mechanisms. We overview both preclinical and clinical studies and emphasize the advantages of hallucinogenic drugs over current first-line treatments. We highlight 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine as the most effective therapeutics for fear-related disorders and discuss the potential molecular mechanisms responsible for their potency with implications for improving hallucinogen-assisted psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilija Glavonic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Mitic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslav Adzic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, "VINČA" Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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de Oliveira RL, Voss GT, da C. Rodrigues K, Pinz MP, Biondi JV, Becker NP, Blodorn E, Domingues WB, Larroza A, Campos VF, Alves D, Wilhelm EA, Luchese C. Prospecting for a quinoline containing selenium for comorbidities depression and memory impairment induced by restriction stress in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:59-81. [PMID: 35013761 PMCID: PMC8747877 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-06039-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Depression is often associated with memory impairment, a clinical feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but no effective treatment is available. 7-Chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinoline (4-PSQ) has been studied in experimental models of diseases that affect the central nervous system. OBJECTIVES The pharmacological activity of 4-PSQ in depressive-like behavior associated with memory impairment induced by acute restraint stress (ARS) in male Swiss mice was evaluated. METHODS ARS is an unavoidable stress model that was applied for a period of 240 min. Ten minutes after ARS, animals were intragastrically treated with canola oil (10 ml/kg) or 4-PSQ (10 mg/kg) or positive controls (paroxetine or donepezil) (10 mg/kg). Then, after 30 min, mice were submitted to behavioral tests. Corticosterone levels were evaluated in plasma and oxidative stress parameters; monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A and MAO -B isoform activity; mRNA expression levels of kappa nuclear factor B (NF-κB); interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and IL-33; phosphatidylinositol-se-kinase (PI3K); protein kinase B (AKT2), as well as acetylcholinesterase activity were evaluated in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. RESULTS 4-PSQ attenuated the depressive-like behavior, self-care, and memory impairment caused by ARS. Based on the evidence, we believe that effects of 4-PSQ may be associated, at least in part, with the attenuation of HPA axis activation, attenuation of alterations in the monoaminergic system, modulation of oxidative stress, reestablishment of AChE activity, modulation of the PI3K/AKT2 pathway, and reduction of neuroinflammation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that 4-PSQ exhibited an antidepressant-like effect and attenuated the memory impairment induced by ARS, and it is a promising molecule to treat these comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata L. de Oliveira
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96010-900 Brazil
| | - Guilherme T. Voss
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96010-900 Brazil
| | - Karline da C. Rodrigues
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96010-900 Brazil
| | - Mikaela P. Pinz
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96010-900 Brazil
| | - Julia V. Biondi
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96010-900 Brazil
| | - Nicole P. Becker
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96010-900 Brazil
| | - Eduardo Blodorn
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - William B. Domingues
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Allya Larroza
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Limpa (LaSOL), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Química, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Vinícius F. Campos
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Diego Alves
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Limpa (LaSOL), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Química, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Ethel A. Wilhelm
- grid.411221.50000 0001 2134 6519Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96010-900 Brazil
| | - Cristiane Luchese
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Bioquímica E Bioprospecção (PPGBBio), Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Farmacologia Bioquímica (LaFarBio), Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas E de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96010-900, Brazil.
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11
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Liu H, Huang X, Xu J, Mao H, Li Y, Ren K, Ma G, Xue Q, Tao H, Wu S, Wang W. Dissection of the relationship between anxiety and stereotyped self-grooming using the Shank3B mutant autistic model, acute stress model and chronic pain model. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100417. [PMID: 34815987 PMCID: PMC8591549 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-grooming is an innate, cephalo-caudal progression of body cleaning behaviors that are found in normal rodents but exhibit repetitive and stereotyped patterns in several mouse models, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is also recognized as a marker of stress and anxiety. Mice with Shank3B gene knockout (KO) exhibit typical ASD-like behavioral abnormalities, including stereotyped self-grooming and increased levels of anxiety. However, the exact relationship between anxiety and stereotyped self-grooming in certain types of animal models is not clear. We selected three animal models with high anxiety to compare their self-grooming parameters. First, we confirmed that Shank3B KO mice (ASD model), acute restraint stress mouse model (stress model), and chronic inflammatory pain mouse model (pain model) all showed increased anxiety levels in the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM). We found that only the ASD model and the stress model produced increased total grooming duration. The pain model only exhibited an increasing trend of mean self-grooming duration. We used the grooming analysis algorithm to examine the self-grooming microstructure and assess the cephalo-caudal progression of grooming behavior. The results showed distinct self-grooming microstructures in these three models. The anxiolytic drug diazepam relieved the anxiety level and the total time of grooming in the ASD and stress models. The grooming microstructure was not restored in Shank3B KO mice but was partially relieved in the stress model, which suggested that anxiety aggravated stereotyped self-grooming duration but not the grooming microstructure in the ASD mouse model. Our results indicated that stereotyped behavior and anxiety may be shared by separate, but interacting, neural circuits in distinct disease models, which may be useful to understand the mechanisms and develop potential treatments for stereotyped behaviors and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jinwei Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Honghui Mao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Yaohao Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Keke Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Guaiguai Ma
- Department of Physiology, Medicine College of Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, China
| | - Qian Xue
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Huiren Tao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
- Corresponding author. Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Wenting Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
- Corresponding author. Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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