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Cristóbal-Luna JM, Mojica-Villegas MA, Meza-Toledo SE, García-Martínez Y, Pérez-Juárez A, Chamorro-Cevallos G. Developmental Toxicity Study of DL-4-Hydroxy-4-Phenylhexanamide (DL-HEPB) in Rats. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1714. [PMID: 37629571 PMCID: PMC10455234 DOI: 10.3390/life13081714] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiepileptic drugs affect embryonic development when administered during pregnancy, generating severe alterations, such as as cleft lip, spina bifida, heart abnormalities, or neuronal alterations. The compound DL-4-hydroxy-4-phenylhexanamide (DL-HEPB), a phenyl alcohol amide structurally different from known anticonvulsants, has shown good anticonvulsant effects in previous studies. However, its effects on intrauterine development are unknown. So, the purpose of this study was to determine the potential of DL-HEPB to produce alterations in conceptus. Pregnant Wistar rats were orally exposed to 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of DL-HEPB during organogenesis, and their food consumption and weight gain were measured. On gestation day 21, pregnant females were euthanized to analyze the fetuses for external, visceral, and skeletal malformations. A significant decrease in food consumption and body weight was observed in mothers, without any other manifestation of toxicity. In fetuses, no external malformations, visceral, or skeletal abnormalities, were observed under the dose of 100 mg/kg, while the dose of 200 mg/kg caused malformations in low frequency in brain and kidneys. In view of the results obtained, DL-HEPB could be a good starting point for the design of new highly effective anticonvulsant agents, with much lower developmental toxicity than that shown by commercial anticonvulsants.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Melesio Cristóbal-Luna
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Preclínica, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu 399, Col. Nueva Industrial Vallejo, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City 07738, Mexico; (M.A.M.-V.); (Y.G.-M.)
| | - María Angélica Mojica-Villegas
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Preclínica, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu 399, Col. Nueva Industrial Vallejo, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City 07738, Mexico; (M.A.M.-V.); (Y.G.-M.)
| | - Sergio Enrique Meza-Toledo
- Laboratorio de Quimioterapia Experimental, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Lázaro Cárdenas, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tómas, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Yuliana García-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Preclínica, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu 399, Col. Nueva Industrial Vallejo, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City 07738, Mexico; (M.A.M.-V.); (Y.G.-M.)
| | - Angélica Pérez-Juárez
- Laboratorio de Medicina de Conservación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Col. Casco de Santo Tomás, Del. Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Germán Chamorro-Cevallos
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Preclínica, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu 399, Col. Nueva Industrial Vallejo, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City 07738, Mexico; (M.A.M.-V.); (Y.G.-M.)
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Avoli M, Lévesque M. GABA B Receptors: are they Missing in Action in Focal Epilepsy Research? Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1704-1716. [PMID: 34429053 PMCID: PMC9881065 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210823102332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA, the key inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult forebrain, activates pre- and postsynaptic receptors that have been categorized as GABAA, which directly open ligand-gated (or receptor-operated) ion-channels, and GABAB, which are metabotropic since they operate through second messengers. Over the last three decades, several studies have addressed the role of GABAB receptors in the pathophysiology of generalized and focal epileptic disorders. Here, we will address their involvement in focal epileptic disorders by mainly reviewing in vitro studies that have shown: (i) how either enhancing or decreasing GABAB receptor function can favour epileptiform synchronization and thus ictogenesis, although with different features; (ii) the surprising ability of GABAB receptor antagonism to disclose ictal-like activity when the excitatory ionotropic transmission is abolished; and (iii) their contribution to controlling seizure-like discharges during repetitive electrical stimuli delivered in limbic structures. In spite of this evidence, the role of GABAB receptor function in focal epileptic disorders has been attracting less interest when compared to the numerous studies that have addressed GABAA receptor signaling. Therefore, the main aim of our mini-review is to revive interest in the function of GABAB receptors in focal epilepsy research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Avoli
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital and Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery and of; ,Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185Rome, Italy,Address correspondence to this author at the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, 3801 University Street, Montréal, Canada, H3A 2B4, QC; Tels: +1 514 998 6790; +39 333 483 1060; E-mail:
| | - Maxime Lévesque
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital and Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery and of;
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Vlachou S. A Brief History and the Significance of the GABA B Receptor. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2021; 52:1-17. [PMID: 34595739 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA type B (GABAB) receptors (GABABRs) are the only metabotropic G protein-coupled receptors for GABA and can be found distributed not only in the central nervous system, but also in the periphery. This chapter introduces important, fundamental knowledge related to GABABR function and the various potential therapeutic applications of the development of novel GABABR-active compounds, as documented through extensive studies presented in subsequent chapters of this Current Topic in Behavioral Neurosciences volume on the role of the neurobiology of GABABR function. The compounds that have received increased attention in the last few years compared to GABABR agonists and antagonists - the positive allosteric modulators - exhibit better pharmacological profiles and fewer side effects. As we continue to unveil the mystery of GABABRs at the molecular and cellular levels, we further understand the significance of these receptors. Future directions should aim for developing highly selective GABABR compounds for treating neuropsychiatric disorders and their symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Vlachou
- Neuropsychopharmacology Division, Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
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