1
|
Hersey M, Tanda G. Modafinil, an atypical CNS stimulant? ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2023; 99:287-326. [PMID: 38467484 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Modafinil is a central nervous system stimulant approved for the treatment of narcolepsy and sleep disorders. Due to its wide range of biochemical actions, modafinil has been explored for other potential therapeutic uses. Indeed, it has shown promise as a therapy for cognitive disfunction resulting from neurologic disorders like ADHD, and as a smart drug in non-medical settings. The mechanism(s) of actions underlying the therapeutic efficacy of this agent remains largely elusive. Modafinil is known to inhibit the dopamine transporter, thus decreasing dopamine reuptake following neuronal release, an effect shared by addictive psychostimulants. However, modafinil is unique in that only a few cases of dependence on this drug have been reported, as compared to other psychostimulants. Moreover, modafinil has been tested, with some success, as a potential therapeutic agent to combat psychostimulant and other substance use disorders. Modafinil has additional, but less understood, actions on other neurotransmitter systems (GABA, glutamate, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc.). These interactions, together with its ability to activate selected brain regions, are likely one of the keys to understand its unique pharmacology and therapeutic activity as a CNS stimulant. In this chapter, we outline the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of modafinil that suggest it has an "atypical" CNS stimulant profile. We also highlight the current approved and off label uses of modafinil, including its beneficial effects as a treatment for sleep disorders, cognitive functions, and substance use disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Hersey
- Medication Development Program, NIDA-IRP, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Gianluigi Tanda
- Medication Development Program, NIDA-IRP, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lubec J, Hussein AM, Kalaba P, Feyissa DD, Arias-Sandoval E, Cybulska-Klosowicz A, Bezu M, Stojanovic T, Korz V, Malikovic J, Aher NY, Zehl M, Dragacevic V, Leban JJ, Sagheddu C, Wackerlig J, Pistis M, Correa M, Langer T, Urban E, Höger H, Lubec G. Low-Affinity/High-Selectivity Dopamine Transport Inhibition Sufficient to Rescue Cognitive Functions in the Aging Rat. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030467. [PMID: 36979402 PMCID: PMC10046369 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The worldwide increase in cognitive decline, both in aging and with psychiatric disorders, warrants a search for pharmacological treatment. Although dopaminergic treatment approaches represent a major step forward, current dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitors are not sufficiently specific as they also target other transporters and receptors, thus showing unwanted side effects. Herein, we describe an enantiomerically pure, highly specific DAT inhibitor, S-CE-123, synthetized in our laboratory. Following binding studies to DAT, NET and SERT, GPCR and kinome screening, pharmacokinetics and a basic neurotoxic screen, S-CE-123 was tested for its potential to enhance and/or rescue cognitive functions in young and in aged rats in the non-invasive reward-motivated paradigm of a hole-board test for spatial learning. In addition, an open field study with young rats was carried out. We demonstrated that S-CE-123 is a low-affinity but highly selective dopamine reuptake inhibitor with good bioavailability. S-CE-123 did not induce hyperlocomotion or anxiogenic or stereotypic behaviour in young rats. Our compound improved the performance of aged but not young rats in a reward-motivated task. The well-described impairment of the dopaminergic system in aging may underlie the age-specific effect. We propose S-CE-123 as a possible candidate for developing a tentative therapeutic strategy for age-related cognitive decline and cognitive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Lubec
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ahmed M. Hussein
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Predrag Kalaba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Daba Feyissa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Anita Cybulska-Klosowicz
- Neurobiology of Emotions Laboratory, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mekite Bezu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamara Stojanovic
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Volker Korz
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Jovana Malikovic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nilima Y. Aher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Zehl
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Vladimir Dragacevic
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johann Jakob Leban
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Judith Wackerlig
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marco Pistis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Merce Correa
- Department of Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12006 Castelló, Spain
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Behavioral Neuroscience Division, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Thierry Langer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Urban
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Höger
- Core Unit of Biomedical Research, Division of Laboratory Animal Science and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, 2325 Himberg, Austria
| | - Gert Lubec
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-676-569-4816
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sáez-Briones P, Palma B, Burgos H, Barra R, Hernández A. Aromatic Bromination Abolishes Deficits in Visuospatial Learning Induced by MDMA ("Ecstasy") in Rats While Preserving the Ability to Increase LTP in the Prefrontal Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043724. [PMID: 36835133 PMCID: PMC9963799 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It has recently been demonstrated that aromatic bromination at C(2) abolishes all typical psychomotor, and some key prosocial effects of the entactogen MDMA in rats. Nevertheless, the influence of aromatic bromination on MDMA-like effects on higher cognitive functions remains unexplored. In the present work, the effects of MDMA and its brominated analog 2Br-4,5-MDMA (1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg i.p. each) on visuospatial learning, using a radial, octagonal Olton maze (4 × 4) which may discriminate between short-term and long-term memory, were compared with their influence on in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) in the prefrontal cortex in rats. The results obtained indicate that MDMA diminishes both short- and long-term visuospatial memory but increases LTP. In contrast, 2Br-4,5-MDMA preserves long-term visuospatial memory and slightly accelerates the occurrence of short-term memory compared to controls, but increases LTP, like MDMA. Taken together, these data are consistent with the notion that the modulatory effects induced by the aromatic bromination of the MDMA template, which abolishes typical entactogenic-like responses, might be extended to those effects affecting higher cognitive functions, such as visuospatial learning. This effect seems not to be associated with the increase of LTP in the prefrontal cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricio Sáez-Briones
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología y Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
- Correspondence:
| | - Boris Palma
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 7500912, Chile
| | - Héctor Burgos
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 7570008, Chile
| | - Rafael Barra
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
| | - Alejandro Hernández
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cid-Jofré V, Moreno M, Sotomayor-Zárate R, Cruz G, Renard GM. Modafinil Administration to Preadolescent Rat Impairs Non-Selective Attention, Frontal Cortex D 2 Expression and Mesolimbic GABA Levels. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126602. [PMID: 35743046 PMCID: PMC9223864 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The misuse of psychostimulants is an increasing behavior among young people, highlighting in some countries the abuse of modafinil (MOD) as a neuropotentiator. However, several clinical trials are investigating MOD as an alternative pharmacological treatment for attentional deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. On the other hand, the early use of psychostimulants and the misdiagnosis rates in ADHD make it crucial to investigate the brain effects of this type of drug in young healthy individuals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of chronic MOD treatment on neurochemicals (γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate), dopamine receptor 2 (D2) expression and behavior (non-selective attention "NSA") in the mesocorticolimbic system of young healthy Sprague-Dawley rats. Preadolescent male rats were injected with MOD (75 mg/kg, i.p.) or a vehicle for 14 days (from postnatal day 22 to 35). At postnatal day 36, we measured the GLU and GABA contents and their extracellular levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In addition, the GLU and GABA contents were measured in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and D2 protein levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Chronic use of MOD during adolescence induces behavioral and neurochemical changes associated with the mesocorticolimbic system, such as a reduction in PFC D2 expression, VTA GABA levels and NSA. These results contribute to the understanding of the neurological effects of chronic MOD use on a young healthy brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeska Cid-Jofré
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Obispo Umaña 050, Estación Central, Santiago 9160019, Chile; (V.C.-J.); (M.M.)
| | - Macarena Moreno
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Obispo Umaña 050, Estación Central, Santiago 9160019, Chile; (V.C.-J.); (M.M.)
- Escuela de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago 8370993, Chile
| | - Ramón Sotomayor-Zárate
- Laboratorio de Neuroquímica y Neurofarmacología, Centro de Neurobiología y Fisiopatología Integrativa (CENFI), Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1111, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile;
| | - Gonzalo Cruz
- Laboratorio de Alteraciones Reproductivas y Metabólicas, Centro de Neurobiología y Fisiopatología Integrativa (CENFI), Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1111, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile;
| | - Georgina M. Renard
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Obispo Umaña 050, Estación Central, Santiago 9160019, Chile; (V.C.-J.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hersey M, Bacon AK, Bailey LG, Coggiano MA, Newman AH, Leggio L, Tanda G. Psychostimulant Use Disorder, an Unmet Therapeutic Goal: Can Modafinil Narrow the Gap? Front Neurosci 2021; 15:656475. [PMID: 34121988 PMCID: PMC8187604 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.656475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of individuals affected by psychostimulant use disorder (PSUD) has increased rapidly over the last few decades resulting in economic, emotional, and physical burdens on our society. Further compounding this issue is the current lack of clinically approved medications to treat this disorder. The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a common target of psychostimulant actions related to their use and dependence, and the recent availability of atypical DAT inhibitors as a potential therapeutic option has garnered popularity in this research field. Modafinil (MOD), which is approved for clinical use for the treatment of narcolepsy and sleep disorders, blocks DAT just like commonly abused psychostimulants. However, preclinical and clinical studies have shown that it lacks the addictive properties (in both behavioral and neurochemical studies) associated with other abused DAT inhibitors. Clinical availability of MOD has facilitated its off-label use for several psychiatric disorders related to alteration of brain dopamine (DA) systems, including PSUD. In this review, we highlight clinical and preclinical research on MOD and its R-enantiomer, R-MOD, as potential medications for PSUD. Given the complexity of PSUD, we have also reported the effects of MOD on psychostimulant-induced appearance of several symptoms that could intensify the severity of the disease (i.e., sleep disorders and impairment of cognitive functions), besides the potential therapeutic effects of MOD on PSUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Hersey
- Medication Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amanda K. Bacon
- Medication Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lydia G. Bailey
- Medication Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mark A. Coggiano
- Medication Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amy H. Newman
- Medication Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lorenzo Leggio
- Medication Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Clinical Psychoneuroendo- crinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Gianluigi Tanda
- Medication Development Program, Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Burgos H, Hernández A, Constandil L, Ríos M, Flores O, Puentes G, Hernández K, Morgan C, Valladares L, Castillo A, Cofre C, Milla LA, Sáez-Briones P, Barra R. Early postnatal environmental enrichment restores neurochemical and functional plasticities of the cerebral cortex and improves learning performance in hidden-prenatally-malnourished young-adult rats. Behav Brain Res 2019; 363:182-190. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
|
7
|
Brem AK, Sensi SL. Towards Combinatorial Approaches for Preserving Cognitive Fitness in Aging. Trends Neurosci 2018; 41:885-897. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
8
|
Kristofova M, Aher YD, Ilic M, Radoman B, Kalaba P, Dragacevic V, Aher NY, Leban J, Korz V, Zanon L, Neuhaus W, Wieder M, Langer T, Urban E, Sitte HH, Hoeger H, Lubec G, Aradska J. A daily single dose of a novel modafinil analogue CE-123 improves memory acquisition and memory retrieval. Behav Brain Res 2018; 343:83-94. [PMID: 29410048 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine reuptake inhibitors have been shown to improve cognitive parameters in various tasks and animal models. We recently reported a series of modafinil analogues, of which the most promising, 5-((benzhydrylsulfinyl)methyl) thiazole (CE-123), was selected for further development. The present study aims to characterize pharmacological properties of CE-123 and to investigate the potential to enhance memory performance in a rat model. In vitro transporter assays were performed in cells expressing human transporters. CE-123 blocked uptake of [3H] dopamine (IC50 = 4.606 μM) while effects on serotonin (SERT) and the norepinephrine transporter (NET) were negligible. Blood-brain barrier and pharmacokinetic studies showed that the compound reached the brain and lower elimination than R-modafinil. The Pro-cognitive effect was evaluated in a spatial hole-board task in male Sprague-Dawley rats and CE-123 enhances memory acquisition and memory retrieval, represented by significantly increased reference memory indices and shortened latency. Since DAT blockers can be considered as indirect dopamine receptor agonists, western blotting was used to quantify protein levels of dopamine receptors D1R, D2R and D5R and DAT in the synaptosomal fraction of hippocampal subregions CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG). CE-123 administration in rats increased total DAT levels and D1R protein levels were significantly increased in CA1 and CA3 in treated/trained groups. The increase of D5R was observed in DG only. Dopamine receptors, particularly D1R, seem to play a role in mediating CE-123-induced memory enhancement. Dopamine reuptake inhibition by CE-123 may represent a novel and improved stimulant therapeutic for impairments of cognitive functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Kristofova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yogesh D Aher
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marija Ilic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bojana Radoman
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Predrag Kalaba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vladimir Dragacevic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nilima Y Aher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johann Leban
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Volker Korz
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Zanon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Winfried Neuhaus
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Competence Center Health and Bioresources, Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Wieder
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thierry Langer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Urban
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald H Sitte
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Hoeger
- Core Unit of Biomedical Research, Division of Laboratory Animal Science and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Himberg, Austria
| | - Gert Lubec
- Department of Neuroproteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Jana Aradska
- Department of Neuroproteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hussein AM, Aher YD, Kalaba P, Aher NY, Dragačević V, Radoman B, Ilić M, Leban J, Beryozkina T, Ahmed ABM, Urban E, Langer T, Lubec G. A novel heterocyclic compound improves working memory in the radial arm maze and modulates the dopamine receptor D1R in frontal cortex of the Sprague-Dawley rat. Behav Brain Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
|
10
|
Shanmugasundaram B, Aher YD, Aradska J, Ilic M, Daba Feyissa D, Kalaba P, Aher NY, Dragacevic V, Saber Marouf B, Langer T, Sitte HH, Hoeger H, Lubec G, Korz V. R-Modafinil exerts weak effects on spatial memory acquisition and dentate gyrus synaptic plasticity. PLoS One 2017. [PMID: 28644892 PMCID: PMC5482457 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Modafinil is a wake promoting drug approved for clinical use and also has cognitive enhancing properties. Its enantiomer R-Modafinil (R-MO) is not well studied in regard to cognitive enhancing properties. Hence we studied its effect in a spatial memory paradigm and its possible effects on dentate gyrus long-term potentiation (DG-LTP). Clinically relevant doses of R-MO, vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or saline were administered for three days during the hole-board test and in in vivo DG-LTP. Synaptic levels of dopamine receptors D1R, D2R, dopamine transporter (DAT), and its phosphorylated form (ph-DAT) in DG tissue 4 h after LTP induction were quantified by western blot analysis. Monoamine reuptake and release assays were performed by using transfected HEK-293 cells. Possible neurotoxic side effects on general behaviour were also studied. R-MO at both doses significantly enhanced spatial reference memory during the last training session and during memory retrieval compared to DMSO vehicle but not when compared to saline treated rats. Similarly, R-MO rescues DG-LTP from impairing effects of DMSO. DMSO reduced memory performance and LTP magnitude when compared to saline treated groups. The synaptic DR1 levels in R-MO groups were significantly decreased compared to DMSO group but were comparable with saline treated animals. We found no effect of R-MO in neurotoxicity tests. Thus, our results support the notion that LTP-like synaptic plasticity processes could be one of the factors contributing to the cognitive enhancing effects of spatial memory traces. D1R may play an important regulatory role in these processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yogesh D. Aher
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jana Aradska
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marija Ilic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Predrag Kalaba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nilima Y. Aher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vladimir Dragacevic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Babak Saber Marouf
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thierry Langer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald H. Sitte
- Centre for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Addiction Research and Science, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Hoeger
- Core Unit of Biomedical Research, Division of Laboratory Animal Science and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Himberg, Austria
| | - Gert Lubec
- Neuroproteomics Laboratory, Science Park, Bratislava, Slowakia
- * E-mail: (GL); (VK)
| | - Volker Korz
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail: (GL); (VK)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Effects of Modafinil on Behavioral Learning and Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission in Rats. Int Neurourol J 2015; 19:220-7. [PMID: 26739176 PMCID: PMC4703929 DOI: 10.5213/inj.2015.19.4.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Modafinil is a wake-promoting agent that has been proposed to improve cognitive performance at the preclinical and clinical levels. Since there is insufficient evidence for modafinil to be regarded as a cognitive enhancer, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic modafinil administration on behavioral learning in healthy adult rats. Methods: Y-maze training was used to assess learning performance, and the whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to assess synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region of rats. Results: Intraperitoneal administration of modafinil at 200 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg significantly improved learning performance. Furthermore, perfusion with 1mM modafinil enhanced the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous postsynaptic currents and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices. However, the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons were inhibited by treatment with 1mM modafinil. Conclusions: These results indicate that modafinil improves learning and memory in rats possibly by enhancing glutamatergic excitatory synaptic transmission and inhibiting GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic) inhibitory synaptic transmission.
Collapse
|
12
|
Shanmugasundaram B, Korz V, Fendt M, Braun K, Lubec G. Differential effects of wake promoting drug modafinil in aversive learning paradigms. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:220. [PMID: 26347629 PMCID: PMC4541287 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Modafinil (MO) an inhibitor of the dopamine transporter was initially approved to treat narcolepsy, a sleep related disorder in humans. One interesting “side-effect” of this drug, which emerged from preclinical and clinical studies, is the facilitation of cognitive performance. So far, this was primarily shown in appetitive learning paradigms, but it is yet unclear whether MO exerts a more general cognitive enhancement effect. Thus, the aim of the present study in rats was to extend these findings by testing the effects of MO in two aversive paradigms, Pavlovian fear conditioning (FC) and the operant two-way active avoidance (TWA) learning paradigms. We discovered a differential, task-dependent effect of MO. In the FC paradigm MO treated rats showed a dose-dependent enhancement of fear memory compared to vehicle treated rats, indicated by increased context-related freezing. Cue related fear memory remained unaffected. In the TWA paradigm MO induced a significant decrease of avoidance responses compared to vehicle treated animals, while the number of escape reactions during the acquisition of the TWA task remained unaffected. These findings expand the knowledge in the regulation of cognitive abilities and may contribute to the understanding of the contraindicative effects of MO in anxiety related mental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Volker Korz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Fendt
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Braun
- Department of Zoology/Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Gert Lubec
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although the cognitive-enhancing abilities after modafinil have been demonstrated, its effects on memory consolidation remain overlooked. We investigated the effects of repeated modafinil administration on consolidation of a discriminative avoidance task. METHODS Mice were trained in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task. After training, mice received intraperitonial modafinil (doses of 32, 64 or 128 mg/kg). Animals were treated for more 9 consecutive days; 30 min after the last injection, testing was performed. In addition, the effects of 32 mg/kg modafinil on consolidation at different time points were examined. RESULTS The smaller dose of modafinil (32 mg/kg) impaired memory consolidation, without modifying anxiety or locomotion. Still, modafinil post-training administration at 1 or 2 h impaired memory persistence. CONCLUSIONS Modafinil impaired memory consolidation in a dose- and time-dependent fashion.
Collapse
|
14
|
Burgos H, Cofré C, Hernández A, Sáez-Briones P, Agurto R, Castillo A, Morales B, Zeise ML. Methylphenidate has long-lasting metaplastic effects in the prefrontal cortex of adolescent rats. Behav Brain Res 2015; 291:112-117. [PMID: 25997580 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2014] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Methylphenidate (MPH) is widely used as a "nootropic" agent and in the treatment of disorders of attention, and has been shown to modulate synaptic plasticity in vitro. Here we present in vivo evidence that this MPH-induced metaplasticity can last long after the end of treatment. MPH (0, 0.2, 1 and 5mg/kg) was administered daily to male rats from postnatal day 42 for 15 days. The animals were tested daily in a radial maze. Long-term potentiation (LTP), a marker of neural plasticity, was induced in vivo in the prefrontal cortex after 2-3h, 15-18 days or 5 months without treatment. The behavioral performance of the 1mg/kg group improved, while that of animals that had received 5mg/kg deteriorated. In the 1 and 5mg/kg groups LTP induced 2-3h after the last MPH treatment was twice as large as in the controls. Further, 15-18 days after the last MPH administration, in groups receiving 1 and 5mg/kg, LTP was about fourfold higher than in controls. However, 5 months later, LTP in the 1mg/kg group was similar to controls and in the 5mg/kg group LTP could not be induced at all. No significant changes of LTP were seen in the low-dose group of animals (0.2mg/kg). Thus, firstly, doses of MPH that improve learning coincide approximately with those that augment LTP. Secondly, MPH-induced increases in LTP can last for several weeks, but these may disappear over longer periods or deteriorate at high doses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Burgos
- Laboratorio de Biopsicología, Escuela de Psicología, FAHU, USACH, Chile; Escuela de Psicología, FACSO, Universidad Central de Chile, FAHU, USACH, Chile
| | - C Cofré
- Laboratorio de Biopsicología, Escuela de Psicología, FAHU, USACH, Chile
| | - A Hernández
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Facultad de Química y Biología, FAHU, USACH, Chile
| | - P Sáez-Briones
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología y Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, FAHU, USACH, Chile
| | - R Agurto
- Escuela de Psicología, FCJS, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, FAHU, USACH, Chile
| | - A Castillo
- Escuela de Psicología, FCJS, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, FAHU, USACH, Chile
| | - B Morales
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, FAHU, USACH, Chile.
| | - M L Zeise
- Laboratorio de Biopsicología, Escuela de Psicología, FAHU, USACH, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sáez-Briones P, Soto-Moyano R, Burgos H, Castillo A, Valladares L, Morgan C, Pérez H, Barra R, Constandil L, Laurido C, Hernández A. β2-Adrenoceptor stimulation restores frontal cortex plasticity and improves visuospatial performance in hidden-prenatally-malnourished young-adult rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2015; 119:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
16
|
Garcia VA, Hirotsu C, Matos G, Alvarenga T, Pires GN, Kapczinski F, Schröder N, Tufik S, Andersen ML. Modafinil ameliorates cognitive deficits induced by maternal separation and sleep deprivation. Behav Brain Res 2013; 253:274-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
17
|
Garcia VA, Souza de Freitas B, Busato SB, D'avila Portal BC, Piazza FC, Schröder N. Differential effects of modafinil on memory in naïve and memory-impaired rats. Neuropharmacology 2013; 75:304-11. [PMID: 23958446 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Modafinil is a wake-promoting drug and has been approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. Modafinil was shown to improve learning and memory in rodents, and to reverse memory deficits induced by sleep deprivation or stress. However, depending on the memory paradigm used, modafinil might also impair memory. We aimed to investigate the effects of modafinil on memory consolidation and retrieval for object recognition and inhibitory avoidance in naïve adult rats. We also investigated whether acute or chronic administration of modafinil would reverse memory deficits induced by iron overload, a model of memory impairment related to neurodegenerative disorders. Adult naïve rats received modafinil (0.0, 0.75, 7.5 or 75 mg/kg) either immediately after training or 1 h prior to testing in object recognition or inhibitory avoidance. Iron-treated rats received modafinil immediately after training in object recognition. In order to investigate the effects of chronic modafinil, iron-treated rats received daily injections of modafinil for 17 days, and 24 h later they were trained in object recognition or inhibitory avoidance. Acute modafinil does not affect memory consolidation or retrieval in naive rats. A single injection of modafinil at the highest dose was able to recover recognition memory in iron-treated rats. Chronic modafinil completely recovered iron-induced recognition memory and emotional memory deficits. Additional preclinical and clinical studies are necessary in order to support the applicability of modafinil in recovering memory impairment associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Athaíde Garcia
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Betânia Souza de Freitas
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Stefano Boemler Busato
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Chaves D'avila Portal
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Francisco Correa Piazza
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Nadja Schröder
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Fernandes HA, Zanin KA, Patti CL, Wuo-Silva R, Carvalho RC, Fernandes-Santos L, Bittencourt LRA, Tufik S, Frussa-Filho R. Inhibitory effects of modafinil on emotional memory in mice. Neuropharmacology 2012; 64:365-70. [PMID: 22771974 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.06.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Modafinil (MOD), a psychostimulant used to treat narcolepsy, excessive daytime sleepiness, and sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnea, appears to promote a possible facilitatory effect on cognitive function. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the acute administration of MOD on the different steps of emotional memory formation and usage (acquisition, consolidation and retrieval) as well as the possible participation of the state-dependency phenomenon on the cognitive effects of this compound. Mice were acutely treated with 32, 64 or 128 mg/kg MOD before training or testing or immediately after training and were subjected to the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task. The results showed that although pre-training MOD administration did not exert any effects on learning, the doses of 32 or 64 mg/kg induced emotional memory deficits during testing. Still, the post-training acute administration of the higher doses of MOD (64 and 128 mg/kg) impaired associative memory consolidation. When the drug was administered pre-test, only the 32 mg/kg dose impaired the task retrieval. Importantly, the cognitive impairing effects induced by 32 mg/kg MOD were not related to the phenomenon of state-dependency. In all, our findings provide pre-clinical evidence of potential emotional memory amnesia induced by MOD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Cognitive Enhancers'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helaine A Fernandes
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Napoleão de Barros 925, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|