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Balan I, Boero G, Chéry SL, McFarland MH, Lopez AG, Morrow AL. Neuroactive Steroids, Toll-like Receptors, and Neuroimmune Regulation: Insights into Their Impact on Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:582. [PMID: 38792602 PMCID: PMC11122352 DOI: 10.3390/life14050582] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnane neuroactive steroids, notably allopregnanolone and pregnenolone, exhibit efficacy in mitigating inflammatory signals triggered by toll-like receptor (TLR) activation, thus attenuating the production of inflammatory factors. Clinical studies highlight their therapeutic potential, particularly in conditions like postpartum depression (PPD), where the FDA-approved compound brexanolone, an intravenous formulation of allopregnanolone, effectively suppresses TLR-mediated inflammatory pathways, predicting symptom improvement. Additionally, pregnane neurosteroids exhibit trophic and anti-inflammatory properties, stimulating the production of vital trophic proteins and anti-inflammatory factors. Androstane neuroactive steroids, including estrogens and androgens, along with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), display diverse effects on TLR expression and activation. Notably, androstenediol (ADIOL), an androstane neurosteroid, emerges as a potent anti-inflammatory agent, promising for therapeutic interventions. The dysregulation of immune responses via TLR signaling alongside reduced levels of endogenous neurosteroids significantly contributes to symptom severity across various neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroactive steroids, such as allopregnanolone, demonstrate efficacy in alleviating symptoms of various neuropsychiatric disorders and modulating neuroimmune responses, offering potential intervention avenues. This review emphasizes the significant therapeutic potential of neuroactive steroids in modulating TLR signaling pathways, particularly in addressing inflammatory processes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. It advances our understanding of the complex interplay between neuroactive steroids and immune responses, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies tailored to individual needs and providing insights for future research aimed at unraveling the intricacies of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Balan
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Giorgia Boero
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Samantha Lucenell Chéry
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Neuroscience Curriculum, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Minna H. McFarland
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Neuroscience Curriculum, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alejandro G. Lopez
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - A. Leslie Morrow
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (I.B.); (S.L.C.); (M.H.M.); (A.G.L.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Gol M, Costa AM, Biagini G, Lucchi C. Seizure progression is slowed by enhancing neurosteroid availability in the brain of epileptic rats. Epilepsia 2024; 65:e41-e46. [PMID: 38243753 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Trilostane is a 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-4 isomerase inhibitor able to produce a manyfold increase in brain levels of various neurosteroids, including allopregnanolone. We previously found that treatment with trilostane can slow down epileptogenesis in the kainic acid (KA) model of temporal lobe epilepsy. It is unknown whether trilostane may have a similar effect on the progression of epilepsy severity, as observed in KA-treated rats. Consequently, we investigated the effects of trilostane (50 mg/kg/day, 1 week) in epileptic rats, given 64 days after KA administration. Seizures were monitored by video-electrocorticographic recordings before and during the treatment with trilostane or vehicle (sesame oil), and neurosteroid levels were measured in serum and cerebral tissue using liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry after treatment. Pregnenolone sulfate, pregnenolone, progesterone, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, and allopregnanolone peripheral levels were massively increased by trilostane. With the only exception of hippocampal pregnenolone sulfate, the other neurosteroids augmented in both the neocortex and hippocampus. Only pregnanolone levels were not upregulated by trilostane. As expected, a significant increase in the seizure occurrence was observed in rats receiving the vehicle, but not in the trilostane group. This suggests that the increased availability of neurosteroids produced a disease-modifying effect in the brain of epileptic rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Gol
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Costa
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Biagini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Chiara Lucchi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Feng YF, Zhou YY, Duan KM. The Role of Extrasynaptic GABA Receptors in Postpartum Depression. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:385-396. [PMID: 37612480 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03574-7] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Postpartum depression is a serious disease with a high incidence and severe impact on pregnant women and infants, but its mechanism remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that GABA receptors, especially extrasynaptic receptors, are closely associated with postpartum depression. There are many different structures of GABA receptors, so different types of receptors have different functions, even though they transmit information primarily through GABA. In this review, we focus on the function of GABA receptors, especially extrasynaptic GABA receptors, and their association with postpartum depression. We have shown that the extrasynaptic GABA receptor has a significant impact on the activity and function of neurons through tonic inhibition. The extrasynaptic receptor and its ligands undergo drastic changes during pregnancy and childbirth. Abnormal changes or the body's inability to adjust and recover may be an important cause of postpartum depression. Finally, by reviewing the mechanisms of several novel antidepressants, we suggest that extrasynaptic receptors may be potential targets for the treatment of postpartum depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Fei Feng
- Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yin Yong Zhou
- Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Kai Ming Duan
- Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
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Costa AM, Gol M, Lucchi C, Biagini G. Antiepileptogenic effects of trilostane in the kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2023; 64:1376-1389. [PMID: 36861666 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Epileptogenesis after status epilepticus (SE) has a faster onset in rats treated to reduce brain levels of the anticonvulsant neurosteroid allopregnanolone with the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride; however, it still has to be evaluated whether treatments aimed at increasing allopregnanolone levels could result in the opposite effect of delaying epileptogenesis. This possibility could be tested using the peripherally active inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-4 isomerase trilostane, which has been shown repeatedly to increase allopregnanolone levels in the brain. METHODS Trilostane (50 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously once daily for up to six consecutive days, starting 10 min after intraperitoneal administration of kainic acid (15 mg/kg). Seizures were evaluated by video-electrocorticographic recordings for 70 days maximum, and endogenous neurosteroid levels were assessed by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the presence of brain lesions. RESULTS Trilostane did not alter the latency of kainic acid-induced SE onset or its overall duration. When compared to the vehicle-treated group, rats receiving six daily trilostane injections presented a remarkable delay of the first spontaneous electrocorticographic seizure and subsequent tonic-clonic spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs). Conversely, rats treated with only the first trilostane injection during SE did not differ from vehicle-treated rats in developing the SRSs. Notably, trilostane did not modify neuronal cell densities or the overall damage in the hippocampus. In comparison to the vehicle group, repeated administration of trilostane significantly decreased the activated microglia morphology in the subiculum. As expected, allopregnanolone and other neurosteroid levels were remarkably increased in the hippocampus and neocortex of rats treated for 6 days with trilostane, but pregnanolone was barely detectable. Neurosteroids returned to basal levels after a week of trilostane washout. SIGNIFICANCE Overall, these results suggest that trilostane led to a remarkable increase in allopregnanolone brain levels, which was associated with protracted effects on epileptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Costa
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Mohammad Gol
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,PhD School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Chiara Lucchi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Biagini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Gatta E, Camussi D, Auta J, Guidotti A, Pandey SC. Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone) and alcohol use disorder: From mechanisms to potential pharmacotherapy. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 240:108299. [PMID: 36323379 PMCID: PMC9810076 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a multifaceted relapsing disorder that is commonly comorbid with psychiatric disorders, including anxiety. Alcohol exposure produces a plethora of effects on neurobiology. Currently, therapeutic strategies are limited, and only a few treatments - disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone - are available. Given the complexity of this disorder, there is a great need for the identification of novel targets to develop new pharmacotherapy. The GABAergic system, the primary inhibitory system in the brain, is one of the well-known targets for alcohol and is responsible for the anxiolytic effects of alcohol. Interestingly, GABAergic neurotransmission is fine-tuned by neuroactive steroids that exert a regulatory role on several endocrine systems involved in neuropsychiatric disorders including AUD. Mounting evidence indicates that alcohol alters the biosynthesis of neurosteroids, whereas acute alcohol increases and chronic alcohol decreases allopregnanolone levels. Our recent work highlighted that chronic alcohol-induced changes in neurosteroid levels are mediated by epigenetic modifications, e.g., DNA methylation, affecting key enzymes involved in neurosteroid biosynthesis. These changes were associated with changes in GABAA receptor subunit expression, suggesting an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory signaling in AUD. This review will recapitulate the role of neurosteroids in the regulation of the neuroendocrine system, highlight their role in the observed allostatic load in AUD, and develop a framework from mechanisms to potential pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Gatta
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
| | - Diletta Camussi
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
| | - James Auta
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
| | - Alessandro Guidotti
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
| | - Subhash C Pandey
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA; Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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PILLEROVÁ M, PASTOREK M, BORBÉLYOVÁ V, RILJAK V, FRICK KM, HODOSY J, TÓTHOVÁ Ľ. Sex steroid hormones in depressive disorders as a basis for new potential treatment strategies. Physiol Res 2022; 71:S187-S202. [PMID: 36647907 PMCID: PMC9906660 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The sex steroid hormones (SSHs) such as testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and their metabolites have important organizational and activational impacts on the brain during critical periods of brain development and in adulthood. A variety of slow and rapid mechanisms mediate both organizational and activational processes via intracellular or membrane receptors for SSHs. Physiological concentrations and distribution of SSHs in the brain result in normal brain development. Nevertheless, dysregulation of hormonal equilibrium may result in several mood disorders, including depressive disorders, later in adolescence or adulthood. Gender differences in cognitive abilities, emotions as well as the 2-3 times higher prevalence of depressive disorders in females, were already described. This implies that SSHs may play a role in the development of depressive disorders. In this review, we discuss preclinical and clinical studies linked to SSHs and development of depressive disorders. Our secondary aim includes a review of up-to-date knowledge about molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. Understanding these molecular mechanisms might lead to significant treatment adjustments for patients with depressive disorders and to an amelioration of clinical outcomes for these patients. Nevertheless, the impact of SSHs on the brain in the context of the development of depressive disorders, progression, and treatment responsiveness is complex in nature, and depends upon several factors in concert such as gender, age, comorbidities, and general health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam PILLEROVÁ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal PASTOREK
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Veronika BORBÉLYOVÁ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Vladimír RILJAK
- Institute of Physiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karyn M. FRICK
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Július HODOSY
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ľubomíra TÓTHOVÁ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Guan R, Yang C, Zhang J, Wang J, Chen R, Su P. Dehydroepiandrosterone alleviates hypoxia-induced learning and memory dysfunction by maintaining synaptic homeostasis. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 28:1339-1350. [PMID: 35703574 PMCID: PMC9344085 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Hypoxia causes plenty of pathologies in the central nervous system (CNS) including impairment of cognitive and memory function. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been proved to have therapeutic effects on CNS injuries by maintaining the homeostasis of synapses, yet its effect on hypoxia-induced CNS damage remains unknown. METHODS In vivo and in vitro models were established. Concentrations of glutamate and γ GABA were tested by ELISA. Levels of synapse-associated proteins were measured by western blotting. Density of dendritic protrusions of hippocampal neurons was assessed by Golgi staining. Immunofluorescence was adopted to observe the morphology of primary neurons. The novel object recognition test (NORT) and shuttle box test were used to evaluate cognition. RESULTS Dehydroepiandrosterone reversed abnormal elevation of glutamate levels, shortenings of neuronal processes, decreases in the density of dendritic protrusions, downregulation of synaptosome-associated protein (SNAP25), and impaired cognition caused by hypoxia. Hypoxia also resulted in notably downregulation of syntaxin 1A (Stx-1A). Overexpression of Stx-1A dramatically attenuated hypoxia-induced elevation of glutamate. Treatment with DHEA reversed the Stx-1A downregulation caused by hypoxic exposure. CONCLUSION Dehydroepiandrosterone may exert a protective effect on hypoxia-induced memory impairment by maintaining synaptic homeostasis. These findings offer a novel understanding of the therapeutic effect of DHEA on hypoxia-induced cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruili Guan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Changhao Yang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbin Zhang
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jianyu Wang
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Su
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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Lévesque M, Biagini G, Avoli M. Neurosteroids and Focal Epileptic Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249391. [PMID: 33321734 PMCID: PMC7763947 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurosteroids are a family of compounds that are synthesized in principal excitatory neurons and glial cells, and derive from the transformation of cholesterol into pregnenolone. The most studied neurosteroids—allopregnanolone and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC)—are known to modulate GABAA receptor-mediated transmission, thus playing a role in controlling neuronal network excitability. Given the role of GABAA signaling in epileptic disorders, neurosteroids have profound effects on seizure generation and play a role in the development of chronic epileptic conditions (i.e., epileptogenesis). We review here studies showing the effects induced by neurosteroids on epileptiform synchronization in in vitro brain slices, on epileptic activity in in vivo models, i.e., in animals that were made epileptic with chemoconvulsant treatment, and in epileptic patients. These studies reveal that neurosteroids can modulate ictogenesis and the occurrence of pathological network activity such as interictal spikes and high-frequency oscillations (80–500 Hz). Moreover, they can delay the onset of spontaneous seizures in animal models of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Overall, this evidence suggests that neurosteroids represent a new target for the treatment of focal epileptic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Lévesque
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital & Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-514-398-8909
| | - Giuseppe Biagini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Università 4, 41121 Modena, Italy;
| | - Massimo Avoli
- Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital & Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
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Moolamalla STR, Vinod PK. Genome-scale metabolic modelling predicts biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders. Comput Biol Med 2020; 125:103994. [PMID: 32980779 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2020.103994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Distinguishing neuropsychiatric disorders is challenging due to the overlap in symptoms and genetic risk factors. People suffering from these disorders face personal and professional challenges. Understanding the dysregulation of brain metabolism under disease condition can aid in effective diagnosis and in developing treatment strategies based on the metabolism. In this study, we reconstructed the metabolic network of three major neuropsychiatric disorders, schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) using transcriptomic data and constrained based modelling approach. We integrated brain transcriptomic data from six independent studies with a recent comprehensive genome-scale metabolic model Recon3D. The analysis of the reconstructed network revealed the flux-level alterations in the peroxisome-mitochondria-golgi axis in neuropsychiatric disorders. We also extracted reporter metabolites and pathways that distinguish these three neuropsychiatric disorders. We found differences with respect to fatty acid oxidation, aromatic and branched chain amino acid metabolism, bile acid synthesis, glycosaminoglycans synthesis and modifications, and phospholipid metabolism. Further, we predicted network perturbations that transform the disease metabolic state to a healthy metabolic state for each disorder. These analyses provide local and global views of the metabolic changes in SCZ, BD and MDD, which may have clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T R Moolamalla
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, 500032, India
| | - P K Vinod
- Center for Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, 500032, India.
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Lucchi C, Costa AM, Senn L, Messina S, Rustichelli C, Biagini G. Augmentation of endogenous neurosteroid synthesis alters experimental status epilepticus dynamics. Epilepsia 2020; 61:e129-e134. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.16654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lucchi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy
| | - Anna Maria Costa
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy
| | - Lara Senn
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy
| | - Simone Messina
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy
| | - Cecilia Rustichelli
- Department of Life Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy
| | - Giuseppe Biagini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy
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Almeida FB, Nin MS, Barros HMT. The role of allopregnanolone in depressive-like behaviors: Focus on neurotrophic proteins. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 12:100218. [PMID: 32435667 PMCID: PMC7231971 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Allopregnanolone (3α,5α-tetrahydroprogesterone; pharmaceutical formulation: brexanolone) is a neurosteroid that has recently been approved for the treatment of postpartum depression, promising to fill part of a long-lasting gap in the effectiveness of pharmacotherapies for depressive disorders. In this review, we explore the experimental research that characterized the antidepressant-like effects of allopregnanolone, with a particular focus on the neurotrophic adaptations induced by this neurosteroid in preclinical studies. We demonstrate that there is a consistent decrease in allopregnanolone levels in limbic brain areas in rodents submitted to stress-induced models of depression, such as social isolation and chronic unpredictable stress. Further, both the drug-induced upregulation of allopregnanolone or its direct administration reduce depressive-like behaviors in models such as the forced swim test. The main drugs of interest that upregulate allopregnanolone levels are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which present the neurosteroidogenic property even in lower, non-SSRI doses. Finally, we explore how these antidepressant-like behaviors are related to neurogenesis, particularly in the hippocampus. The protagonist in this mechanism is likely the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BFNF), which is decreased in animal models of depression and may be restored by the normalization of allopregnanolone levels. The role of an interaction between GABA and the neurotrophic mechanisms needs to be further investigated.
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Key Words
- 3α,5α-tetrahydroprogesterone
- BDNF
- BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor
- Brexanolone
- CSF, cerebrospinal fluid
- CUS, chronic unpredictable stress
- Depression
- EKR, extracellular signal-regulated kinase
- FST, forced swim test
- GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid
- GABAAR, GABA type A receptor
- HSD, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
- NGF, nerve growth factor
- Neurosteroid
- PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder
- PXR, pregnane xenobiotic receptor
- SBSS, selective brain steroidogenic stimulant
- SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
- Selective brain steroidogenic stimulant
- THP, tetrahydroprogesterone
- TSPO, 18 kDa translocator protein
- TrkB, tropomyosin receptor kinase B
- USV, ultrasonic vocalization
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Borges Almeida
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences: Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maurício Schüler Nin
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences: Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Centro Universitário Metodista do IPA, 90420-060, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 90040-060, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Helena Maria Tannhauser Barros
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences: Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Tomaselli G, Vallée M. Stress and drug abuse-related disorders: The promising therapeutic value of neurosteroids focus on pregnenolone-progesterone-allopregnanolone pathway. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 55:100789. [PMID: 31525393 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The pregnenolone-progesterone-allopregnanolone pathway is receiving increasing attention in research on the role of neurosteroids in pathophysiology, particularly in stress-related and drug use disorders. These disorders involve an allostatic change that may result from deficiencies in allostasis or adaptive responses, and may be downregulated by adjustments in neurotransmission by neurosteroids. The following is an overview of findings that assess how pregnenolone and/or allopregnanolone concentrations are altered in animal models of stress and after consumption of alcohol or cannabis-type drugs, as well as in patients with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or psychosis and/or in those diagnosed with alcohol or cannabis use disorders. Preclinical and clinical evidence shows that pregnenolone and allopregnanolone, operating according to a different or common pharmacological profile involving GABAergic and/or endocannabinoid system, may be relevant biomarkers of psychiatric disorders for therapeutic purposes. Hence, ongoing clinical trials implicate synthetic analogs of pregnenolone or allopregnanolone, and also modulators of neurosteroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Tomaselli
- INSERM U1215, Neurocentre Magendie, Group "Physiopathology and Therapeutic Approaches of Stress-Related Disease", 146 Rue Léo Saignat, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Monique Vallée
- INSERM U1215, Neurocentre Magendie, Group "Physiopathology and Therapeutic Approaches of Stress-Related Disease", 146 Rue Léo Saignat, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
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Roles of monoaminergic, antioxidant defense and neuroendocrine systems in antidepressant-like effect of Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) in rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2016; 83:340-348. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.06.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
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Schou-Pedersen AMV, Hansen SN, Tveden-Nyborg P, Lykkesfeldt J. Simultaneous quantification of monoamine neurotransmitters and their biogenic metabolites intracellularly and extracellularly in primary neuronal cell cultures and in sub-regions of guinea pig brain. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2016; 1028:222-230. [PMID: 27379407 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the present paper, we describe a validated chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantification of monoamine neurotransmitters and their biogenic metabolites intracellularly and extracellularly in primary neuronal cell culture and in sub-regions of the guinea pig brain. Electrochemical detection provided limits of quantifications (LOQs) between 3.6 and 12nM. Within the linear range, obtained recoveries were from 90.9±9.9 to 120±14% and intra-day and inter-day precisions found to be less than 5.5% and 12%, respectively. The analytical method was applicable for quantification of intracellular and extracellular amounts of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in guinea pig frontal cortex and hippocampal primary neuronal cell cultures. Noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin were found to be in a range from 0.31 to 1.7pmol per 2 million cells intracellularly, but only the biogenic metabolites could be detected extracellularly. Distinct differences in monoamine concentrations were observed when comparing concentrations in guinea pig frontal cortex and cerebellum tissue with higher amounts of dopamine and its metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid in frontal cortex, as compared to cerebellum. The chemical turnover in frontal cortex tissue of guinea pig was for serotonin successfully predicted from the turnover observed in the frontal cortex cell culture. In conclusion, the present analytical method shows high precision, accuracy and sensitivity and is broadly applicable to monoamine measurements in cell cultures as well as brain biopsies from animal models used in preclinical neurochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marie V Schou-Pedersen
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 9, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Stine N Hansen
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 9, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Pernille Tveden-Nyborg
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 9, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Jens Lykkesfeldt
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 9, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Vallée M. Neurosteroids and potential therapeutics: Focus on pregnenolone. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 160:78-87. [PMID: 26433186 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Considerable evidence from preclinical and clinical studies shows that steroids and in particular neurosteroids are important endogenous modulators of several brain-related functions. In this context, it remains to be elucidated whether neurosteroids may serve as biomarkers in the diagnosis of disorders and might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of these disorders. Pregnenolone (PREG) is the main steroid synthesized from cholesterol in mammals and invertebrates. PREG has three main sources of synthesis, the gonads, adrenal glands and brain and is submitted to various metabolizing pathways which are modulated depending on various factors including species, steroidogenic tissues and steroidogenic enzymes. Looking at the whole picture of steroids, PREG is often known as the precursor to other steroids and not as an active steroid per se. Actually, physiological and brain functions have been studied mainly for steroids that are very active either binding to specific intracellular receptors, or modulating with high affinity the abundant membrane receptors, GABAA or NMDA receptors. However, when high sensitive and specific methodological approaches were available to analyze low concentrations of steroids and then match endogenous levels of different steroid metabolomes, several studies have reported more significant alterations in PREG than in other steroids in extraphysiological or pathological conditions, suggesting that PREG could play a functional role as well. Additionally, several molecular targets of PREG were revealed in the mammalian brain and beneficial effects of PREG have been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies. On this basis, this review will be divided into three parts. The first provides a brief overview of the molecular targets of PREG and the pharmacological effects observed in animal and human studies. The second will focus on the possible functional role of PREG with an outline of the modulation of PREG levels in animal and in human research. Finally, the review will highlight the possible therapeutic uses of PREG that point towards the development of pregnenolone-like molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Vallée
- INSERM U862, Neurocentre Magendie, Pathophysiology of Addiction, Bordeaux F33077, France; Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux F33077, France.
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A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pregnenolone for bipolar depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014; 39:2867-73. [PMID: 24917198 PMCID: PMC4200497 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Revised: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Depression in bipolar disorder (BPD) is challenging to treat. Therefore, additional medication options are needed. In the current report, the effect of the neurosteroid pregnenolone on depressive symptoms in BPD was examined. Adults (n=80) with BPD, depressed mood state, were randomized to pregnenolone (titrated to 500 mg/day) or placebo, as add-on therapy, for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (IDS-SR), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Serum neurosteroid levels were assessed at baseline and week 12. Data were analyzed using a mixed model ANCOVA with a between factor of treatment assignment, a within factor (repeated) of visit, and the baseline value, as well as age and gender, as covariates. In participants with at least one postbaseline visit (n=73), a significant treatment by week interaction for the HRSD (F(5,288)=2.61, p=0.025), but not IDS-SR, was observed. Depression remission rates were greater in the pregnenolone group (61%) compared with the placebo group (37%), as assessed by the IDS-SR (χ(2)(1)=3.99, p=0.046), but not the HRSD. Large baseline-to-exit changes in neurosteroid levels were observed in the pregnenolone group but not in the placebo group. In the pregnenolone group, baseline-to-exit change in the HRSA correlated negatively with changes in allopregnanolone (r(22)=-0.43, p=0.036) and pregNANolone (r(22)=-0.48, p=0.019) levels. Pregnenolone was well tolerated. The results suggest that pregnenolone may improve depressive symptoms in patients with BPD and can be safely administered.
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Li YC, Shen JD, Li YY, Huang Q. Antidepressant effects of the water extract from Taraxacum officinale leaves and roots in mice. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2014; 52:1028-1032. [PMID: 24611722 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.876432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The leaves and roots of the Taraxacum officinale F. (Asteraceae) is widely used as traditional medicinal herb in Eastern Asian countries. OBJECTIVE In the present study, the antidepressant-like effects of the water extract of T. officinale (WETO) leaves and roots were investigated in mice using forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Effects of acute (1-day) and chronic treatments (14-days) with WETO (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) on the behavioral changes in FST, TST and OFT, and the serum corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone concentration were assessed in mice. RESULTS Chronic treatment (14-days) with WETO at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly decreased the immobility time in both FST (92.6, 85.1 and 77.4 s) and TST (84.8, 72.1 and 56.9 s). Acute treatment (1-day) with WETO at a dose of 200 mg/kg also markedly decreased the immobility time in both FST (81.7 s) and TST (73.2 s). However, all treatments did not affect the locomotor activity in the OFT. Moreover, FST induced a significant increase in serum CRF (5.8 ng/ml), ACTH (104.7 pg/ml) and corticosterone levels (37.3 ng/ml). Chronic treatment (14-days) with WETO decreased the serum CRF (200 mg/kg: 3.9 ng/ml) and corticosterone (50 mg/kg: 29.9 ng/ml; 100 mg/kg: 22.5 ng/ml; 200 mg/kg: 19.8 ng/ml) levels. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION These results clearly demonstrated the antidepressant effects of WETO in animal models of behavioral despair and suggested the mechanism involved in the neuroendocrine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Cheng Li
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Zhengzhou, Henan Province , PR China
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Hashimoto K. Sigma-1 receptor chaperone and brain-derived neurotrophic factor: emerging links between cardiovascular disease and depression. Prog Neurobiol 2013; 100:15-29. [PMID: 23044468 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a close relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although it is known that the central nervous system (CNS) contributes to this relationship, the detailed mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. Recent studies suggest that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) molecular chaperone sigma-1 receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) play a role in the pathophysiology of CVD and depression. Several meta-analysis studies have showed that levels of BDNF in the blood of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are lower than normal controls, indicating that blood BDNF might be a biomarker for depression. Furthermore, blood levels of BDNF in patients with CVD are also lower than normal controls. A recent study using conditional BDNF knock-out mice in animal models of myocardial infarction highlighted the role of CNS-mediated mechanisms in the cardioprotective effects of BDNF. In addition, a recent study shows that decreased levels of sigma-1 receptor in the mouse brain contribute to the association between heart failure and depression. Moreover, sigma-1 receptor agonists, including the endogenous neurosteroid dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluvoxamine, show potent cardioprotective and antidepressive effects in rodents, via sigma-1 receptor stimulation. Interestingly, agonist activation of sigma-1 receptors increased the secretion of mature BDNF from its precursor proBDNF via chaperone activity in the ER. Given the role of ER stress in the pathophysiology of CVD and MDD, the author will discuss the potential link between sigma-1 receptors and BDNF-TrkB pathway in the pathophysiology of these two diseases. Finally, the author will make a case for potent sigma-1 receptor agonists and TrkB agonists as new potential therapeutic drugs for depressive patients with CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Hashimoto
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Inohana, Chiba, Japan.
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Yi LT, Li J, Li HC, Su DX, Quan XB, He XC, Wang XH. Antidepressant-like behavioral, neurochemical and neuroendocrine effects of naringenin in the mouse repeated tail suspension test. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2012; 39:175-81. [PMID: 22709719 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2012] [Revised: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 06/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Our previous study demonstrated that the citrus bioflavonoid naringenin ameliorated behavioral alterations via the central serotonergic and noradrenergic systems in the tail suspension test (TST) induced mice. To better understand its pharmacological activity, mice were submitted to three 6min-TSTs one week apart (Day 1: test, Day 7: retest 1, Day 14: retest 2) followed by hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR), monoamine neurotransmitters and serum corticosterone measurement. The results suggested that repeated TST detected the gradual increase in the efficacy of naringenin over time, additionally 1-day (20 mg/kg), 7-day (10, 20 mg/kg) and 14-day (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) naringenin treatment markedly decreased the immobility time. Moreover, administration of naringenin for 14 days (20 mg/kg) increased hippocampal serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and GR levels, and reduced serum corticosterone levels in mice exposed to the repeated TST. Overall, the present study indicated that the re-exposure would facilitate the detection of the anti-immobility effects of antidepressant drugs in the mouse TST, and clearly demonstrated that the antidepressant-like effect of naringenin may be mediated by an interaction with neuroendocrine and neurochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Tao Yi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, Fujian Province, PR China.
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Nin MS, Ferri MK, Couto-Pereira NS, Souza MF, Azeredo LA, Agnes G, Gomez R, Barros HMT. The effect of intra-nucleus accumbens administration of allopregnanolone on δ and γ2 GABA(A) receptor subunit mRNA expression in the hippocampus and on depressive-like and grooming behaviors in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2012; 103:359-66. [PMID: 22981694 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in GABA(A) receptor expression have been associated with the allopregnanolone (3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one; 3α,5α-THP) antidepressant-like effect in rats. The present study aimed to verify the effect of bilateral, intra-nucleus accumbens core (intra-AcbC) administration of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone on behaviors in the forced swim and grooming microstructure tests and in the δ and γ2 GABA(A) receptor subunit mRNA expression in right and left hippocampus of rats. The results of this study showed that bilateral, intra-AcbC allopregnanolone administration (5μg/rat) presented antidepressant-like activity in the forced swim test concomitant with an increase in climbing. Allopregnanolone at doses of 1.25 and 5μg/rat also decreased the percentage of correct transitions in the grooming microstructure test. Both δ and γ2 GABA(A) subunit expressions increased in the rat hippocampus after allopregnanolone intra-AcbC treatment. Our findings point to asymmetrical GABA(A) receptor expression changes in the hippocampus of animals treated with allopregnanolone. Further investigation should evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of allopregnanolone not only in other directly infused regions but also with respect to changes in other brain areas of the limbic system to understand allopregnanolone's mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurício S Nin
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Sarmento Leite, 245, 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) is synthesised from dehydroepiandrosterone by the enzyme sulphotransferase. DHEAS is one of the most important neurosteroids in the brain. The concentration of DHEAS in the brain is sometimes higher than peripheral system. At the cellular level, DHEAS has been shown to modulate a variety of synaptic transmission, including cholinergic, GABAergic dopaminergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission. In addition to the effect on the release of a number of neurotransmitters, DHEAS could also modulate the activity of postsynaptic receptors. DHEAS has been found to have multiple important effects on brain functions, such as memory enhancing, antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, and may have relationships with many brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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