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Iorgu AM, Vasilescu AN, Pfeiffer N, Spanagel R, Mallien AS, Inta D, Gass P. Psilocybin does not induce the vulnerability marker HSP70 in neurons susceptible to Olney's lesions. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:1013-1019. [PMID: 37934233 PMCID: PMC11127870 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01699-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
S-ketamine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, and psilocybin, a 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (serotonin) 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist, are reported as effective rapid-acting antidepressants. Both compounds increase glutamate signalling and evoke cortical hyperexcitation. S-ketamine induces neurotoxicity especially in the retrosplenial cortex (Olney's lesions). Whether psilocybin produces similar neurotoxic effects has so far not been investigated. We performed an immunohistochemical whole-brain mapping for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in rats treated with psilocybin, S-ketamine, and MK-801. In contrast to S-ketamine- and MK-801-treated animals, we did not detect any HSP70-positive neurons in retrosplenial cortex of rats treated with psilocybin. Our results suggest that psilocybin might be safer for clinical use compared to S-ketamine regarding neuronal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Maria Iorgu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Research Group Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Andrei-Nicolae Vasilescu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Research Group Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Natascha Pfeiffer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Research Group Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anne Stephanie Mallien
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Research Group Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dragos Inta
- Department for Community Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Gass
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Research Group Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
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Das V, Basovich MB, Thomas CJ, Kroin JS, Buvanendran A, McCarthy RJ. A Pharmacological Evaluation of the Analgesic Effect and Hippocampal Protein Modulation of the Ketamine Metabolite (2R,6R)-Hydroxynorketamine in Murine Pain Models. Anesth Analg 2024; 138:1094-1106. [PMID: 37319016 PMCID: PMC10721716 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ketamine metabolite (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine ([2R,6R]-HNK) has analgesic efficacy in murine models of acute, neuropathic, and chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) dependence of (2R,6R)-HNK analgesia and protein changes in the hippocampus in murine pain models administered (2R,6R)-HNK or saline. METHODS All mice were CD-1 IGS outbred mice. Male and female mice underwent plantar incision (PI) (n = 60), spared nerve injury (SNI) (n = 64), or tibial fracture (TF) (n = 40) surgery on the left hind limb. Mechanical allodynia was assessed using calibrated von Frey filaments. Mice were randomized to receive saline, naloxone, or the brain-penetrating AMPA blocker (1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-6-nitro-2,3-dioxobenzo [f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide [NBQX]) before (2R,6R)-HNK 10 mg/kg, and this was repeated for 3 consecutive days. The area under the paw withdrawal threshold by time curve for days 0 to 3 (AUC 0-3d ) was calculated using trapezoidal integration. The AUC 0-3d was converted to percent antiallodynic effect using the baseline and pretreatment values as 0% and 100%. In separate experiments, a single dose of (2R,6R)-HNK 10 mg/kg or saline was administered to naive mice (n = 20) and 2 doses to PI (n = 40), SNI injury (n = 40), or TF (n = 40) mice. Naive mice were tested for ambulation, rearing, and motor strength. Immunoblot studies of the right hippocampal tissue were performed to evaluate the ratios of glutamate ionotropic receptor (AMPA) type subunit 1 (GluA1), glutamate ionotropic receptor (AMPA) type subunit 2 (GluA2), phosphorylated voltage-gated potassium channel 2.1 (p-Kv2.1), phosphorylated-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (p-CaMKII), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit 1 (p-EIF2SI), and phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (p-EIF4E) to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). RESULTS No model-specific gender difference in antiallodynic responses before (2R,6R)-HNK administration was observed. The antiallodynic AUC 0-3d of (2R,6R)-HNK was decreased by NBQX but not with pretreatment with naloxone or saline. The adjusted mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) antiallodynic effect of (2R,6R)-HNK in the PI, SNI, and TF models was 40.7% (34.1%-47.3%), 55.1% (48.7%-61.5%), and 54.7% (46.5%-63.0%), greater in the SNI, difference 14.3% (95% CI, 3.1-25.6; P = .007) and TF, difference 13.9% (95% CI, 1.9-26.0; P = .019) compared to the PI model. No effect of (2R,6R)-HNK on ambulation, rearing, or motor coordination was observed. Administration of (2R,6R)-HNK was associated with increased GluA1, GluA2, p-Kv2.1, and p-CaMKII and decreased BDNF ratios in the hippocampus, with model-specific variations in proteins involved in other pain pathways. CONCLUSIONS (2R,6R)-HNK analgesia is AMPA-dependent, and (2R,6R)-HNK affected glutamate, potassium, calcium, and BDNF pathways in the hippocampus. At 10 mg/kg, (2R,6R)-HNK demonstrated a greater antiallodynic effect in models of chronic compared with acute pain. Protein analysis in the hippocampus suggests that AMPA-dependent alterations in BDNF-TrkB and Kv2.1 pathways may be involved in the antiallodynic effect of (2R,6R)-HNK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaskar Das
- Department of Anesthesiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Michael B. Basovich
- Department of Anesthesiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Craig J. Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, Chemistry Technologies, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Jeffrey S. Kroin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
| | | | - Robert J McCarthy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
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Huang W, Zhang Y, Yang L, Zhang Y, Cheng L, Deng Y, Wu X, Wang T, Yang X, Ye L. Pharmacokinetics, absolute bioavailability, and tissue distribution of WJ-14, a novel N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, in rats by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Biomed Chromatogr 2024; 38:e5823. [PMID: 38254341 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
To circumvent the limitations of current antidepressants, WJ-14, a novel N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, was synthesized and demonstrated to have remarkable efficiency in the treatment of depression. To illustrate the pharmacokinetics, absolute bioavailability, and tissue distribution of WJ-14 in rats, a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based analytical method was developed and validated for the separation and detection of WJ-14 in both plasma and tissue samples. After oral administration, WJ-14 was rapidly absorbed into the blood with time to reach the maximum plasma concentration (Tmax ) within 0.28 h and quickly eliminated with clearance (Cl) exceeding 6.80 L/h/kg and elimination half-life (t1/2 ) within 2.69 h. No obvious accumulation was found with mean residencetime (MRT) within 4.10 h. Tissue distribution revealed that WJ-14 was extensively distributed in the main tissues of rats, and massive amounts of WJ-14 were distributed in the liver. Extensive distribution and quick elimination led to extremely low absolute bioavailability of WJ-14 (1.91% of 8.33 mg/kg and 3.30% of 24.99 mg/kg). WJ-14 was detected in the brain only 0.083 h after oral administration, which is crucial for a rapid-onset antidepressant candidate. In addition, WJ-14 likely exhibited a non-linear pharmacokinetic process at dosages of 8.33 and 24.99 mg/kg. The findings may provide valuable information for subsequent studies on WJ-14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyin Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital (the First People's Hospital of Bijie), Bijie, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medicinal University, Zunyi, China
| | - Lishou Yang
- Natural Products Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guiyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital (the First People's Hospital of Bijie), Bijie, China
| | - Yan Deng
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital (the First People's Hospital of Bijie), Bijie, China
| | - Xinyu Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital (the First People's Hospital of Bijie), Bijie, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital (the First People's Hospital of Bijie), Bijie, China
| | - Xiaosheng Yang
- Natural Products Research Center of Guizhou Province, Guiyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Linhu Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital (the First People's Hospital of Bijie), Bijie, China
- The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology & Nanhai District People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
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Riggs LM, Pereira EFR, Thompson SM, Gould TD. cAMP-dependent protein kinase signaling is required for ( 2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine to potentiate hippocampal glutamatergic transmission. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:64-74. [PMID: 38050689 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00326.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
(2R,6R)-Hydroxynorketamine (HNK) is a ketamine metabolite that shows rapid antidepressant-like effects in preclinical studies and lacks the adverse N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) inhibition-related properties of ketamine. Investigating how (2R,6R)-HNK exerts its antidepressant actions may be informative in the design of novel pharmacotherapies with improved safety and efficacy. We sought to identify the molecular substrates through which (2R,6R)-HNK induces functional changes at excitatory synapses, a prevailing hypothesis for how rapid antidepressant effects are initiated. We recorded excitatory postsynaptic potentials in hippocampal slices from male Wistar Kyoto rats, which have impaired hippocampal plasticity and are resistant to traditional antidepressants. (2R,6R)-HNK (10 µM) led to a rapid potentiation of electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials at Schaffer collateral CA1 stratum radiatum synapses. This potentiation was associated with a decrease in paired pulse facilitation, suggesting an increase in the probability of glutamate release. The (2R,6R)-HNK-induced potentiation was blocked by inhibiting either cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) or its downstream target, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). As cAMP is a potent regulator of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release, we assessed whether (2R,6R)-HNK exerts this acute potentiation through a rapid increase in cAMP-dependent BDNF-TrkB signaling. We found that the cAMP-PKA-dependent potentiation was not dependent on TrkB activation by BDNF, which functionally delimits the acute synaptic effects of (2R,6R)-HNK from its sustained BDNF-dependent actions in vivo. These results suggest that, by potentiating glutamate release via cAMP-PKA signaling, (2R,6R)-HNK initiates acute adaptations in fast excitatory synaptic transmission that promote structural plasticity leading to maintained antidepressant action.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant and its preclinical effects are mimicked by its (2R,6R)-(HNK) metabolite. We found that (2R,6R)-HNK initiates acute adaptations in fast excitatory synaptic transmission by potentiating glutamate release via cAMP-PKA signaling at hippocampal Schaffer collateral synapses. This cAMP-PKA-dependent potentiation was not dependent on TrkB activation by BDNF, which functionally delimits the rapid synaptic effects of (2R,6R)-HNK from its sustained BDNF-dependent actions that are thought to maintain antidepressant action in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lace M Riggs
- Program in Neuroscience and Training Program in Integrative Membrane Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Edna F R Pereira
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Scott M Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Todd D Gould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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Fava M, Stahl SM, De Martin S, Mattarei A, Bettini E, Comai S, Alimonti A, Bifari F, Pani L, Folli F, Guidetti C, Furlan A, Sgrignani J, Locatelli P, Cavalli A, O’Gorman C, Traversa S, Inturrisi CE, Pappagallo M, Manfredi PL. Esmethadone-HCl (REL-1017): a promising rapid antidepressant. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1463-1476. [PMID: 36890259 PMCID: PMC10465385 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01571-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
This review article presents select recent studies that form the basis for the development of esmethadone into a potential new drug. Esmethadone is a promising member of the pharmacological class of uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists that have shown efficacy for major depressive disorder (MDD) and other diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's dementia and pseudobulbar affect. The other drugs in the novel class of NMDAR antagonists with therapeutic uses that are discussed for comparative purposes in this review are esketamine, ketamine, dextromethorphan, and memantine. We present in silico, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical data for esmethadone and other uncompetitive NMDAR antagonists that may advance our understanding of the role of these receptors in neural plasticity in health and disease. The efficacy of NMDAR antagonists as rapid antidepressants may advance our understanding of the neurobiology of MDD and other neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Fava
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Stephen M. Stahl
- Department of Psychiatry, VAMC (SD), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
- Neuroscience Education Institute, Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA
| | - Sara De Martin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Mattarei
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Ezio Bettini
- In Vitro Pharmacology Department, Aptuit, an Evotec Company, 37135 Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Comai
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1 Canada
| | - Andrea Alimonti
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, 35129 Padua, Italy
- Department of Medicine—DIMED, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Bifari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Pani
- Relmada Therapeutics, Coral Gables, FL 33134 USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146 USA
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Franco Folli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Clotilde Guidetti
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Furlan
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Jacopo Sgrignani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Patrizia Locatelli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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6
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Bernardes LMM, Malta SM, Rodrigues TS, Covizzi LF, Rosa RB, Justino AB, Teixeira RR, Espíndola FS, Oliveira dos Santos D, Vieira CU, Vieira da Silva M. Drosophila melanogaster as a model for studies related to the toxicity of lavender, ginger and copaiba essential oils. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291242. [PMID: 37768921 PMCID: PMC10538661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This study addresses the current trend of essential oils in alternative medicine using the non-chordate model Drosophila melanogaster. Following the three R's principles, it proposes non-chordate models to fill knowledge gaps on essential oil toxicity. Copaiba, lavender, and ginger essential oils are evaluated for effects on D. melanogaster lifespan, climbing ability, and brain structure, while their anti-inflammatory properties are also analyzed. Results show dose-related differences: higher concentrations (0.25% v/v) cause brain deterioration and impaired climbing, while lower concentrations (0.0625% v/v for copaiba and ginger; 0.125% for lavender) have no effect on climbing or brain structure. Lavender oil significantly extends lifespan and maintains anti-inflammatory activity when ingested, underscoring its therapeutic potential. These findings highlight the importance of D. melanogaster as a model for studying essential oil properties, potentially replacing chordate models. In addition, this research advances alternative remedies for currently incurable diseases, with lavender oil emerging as a promising candidate for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Serena Mares Malta
- Genetics Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Rafael Borges Rosa
- Biotechnology in Experimental Models Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
- Rodents Animal Facilities Complex, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Allisson Benatti Justino
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Renata Roland Teixeira
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Foued Salmen Espíndola
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Débora Oliveira dos Santos
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ueira Vieira
- Genetics Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Murilo Vieira da Silva
- Biotechnology in Experimental Models Laboratory, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
- Rodents Animal Facilities Complex, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
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7
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Jordan W, Sapko MT, Siegel R, Javitt J. NRX-101, a Rapid-Acting Anti-Depressant, Does Not Cause Neurotoxicity Following Ketamine Administration in Preclinical Models. Int J Toxicol 2023; 42:379-385. [PMID: 37226048 DOI: 10.1177/10915818231176971] [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] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Agents that act at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), such as ketamine, have gained increasing attention as rapid-acting antidepressants; however, their use has been limited by potential neurotoxicity. Recent FDA guidance requires a demonstration of safety on histologic parameters prior to the initiation of human studies. D-cycloserine (DCS) is a partial NMDA agonist that, along with lurasidone, is being investigated as a treatment for depression. The current study was designed to investigate the neurologic safety profile of DCS. To this end, female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 106) were randomly divided into 8 study groups. Ketamine was administered via tail vein infusion. DCS and lurasidone were administered via oral gavage in escalating doses to a maximum of 2000 mg/kg DCS. To ascertain toxicity, dose escalation with 3 different doses of D-cycloserine/lurasidone was given in combination with ketamine. MK-801, a known neurotoxic NMDA antagonist, was administered as a positive control. Brain tissue was sectioned and stained with H&E, silver, and Fluoro-Jade B stains. No fatalities were observed in any group. No microscopic abnormalities were found in the brain of animal subjects given ketamine, ketamine followed by DCS/lurasidone, or DCS/lurasidone alone. Neuronal necrosis, as expected, was seen in the MK-801 (positive control) group. We conclude that NRX-101, a fixed-dose combination of DCS/lurasidone, when administered with or without prior infusion of IV ketamine was tolerated and did not induce neurotoxicity, even at supratherapeutic doses of DCS.
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Patel C, Pande S, Sagathia V, Ranch K, Beladiya J, Boddu SHS, Jacob S, Al-Tabakha MM, Hassan N, Shahwan M. Nanocarriers for the Delivery of Neuroprotective Agents in the Treatment of Ocular Neurodegenerative Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:837. [PMID: 36986699 PMCID: PMC10052766 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal neurodegeneration is considered an early event in the pathogenesis of several ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. At present, there is no definitive treatment to prevent the progression or reversal of vision loss caused by photoreceptor degeneration and the death of retinal ganglion cells. Neuroprotective approaches are being developed to increase the life expectancy of neurons by maintaining their shape/function and thus prevent the loss of vision and blindness. A successful neuroprotective approach could prolong patients' vision functioning and quality of life. Conventional pharmaceutical technologies have been investigated for delivering ocular medications; however, the distinctive structural characteristics of the eye and the physiological ocular barriers restrict the efficient delivery of drugs. Recent developments in bio-adhesive in situ gelling systems and nanotechnology-based targeted/sustained drug delivery systems are receiving a lot of attention. This review summarizes the putative mechanism, pharmacokinetics, and mode of administration of neuroprotective drugs used to treat ocular disorders. Additionally, this review focuses on cutting-edge nanocarriers that demonstrated promising results in treating ocular neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chirag Patel
- Department of Pharmacology, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - Sonal Pande
- Department of Pharmacology, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - Vrunda Sagathia
- Department of Pharmacology, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - Ketan Ranch
- Department of Pharmaceutics, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - Jayesh Beladiya
- Department of Pharmacology, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - Sai H. S. Boddu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shery Jacob
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, Ajman P.O. Box 4184, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moawia M. Al-Tabakha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nageeb Hassan
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Science, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moyad Shahwan
- Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Science, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
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Esmethadone (REL-1017) and Other Uncompetitive NMDAR Channel Blockers May Improve Mood Disorders via Modulation of Synaptic Kinase-Mediated Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012196. [PMID: 36293063 PMCID: PMC9602945 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This article presents a mechanism of action hypothesis to explain the rapid antidepressant effects of esmethadone (REL-1017) and other uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists and presents a corresponding mechanism of disease hypothesis for major depressive disorder (MDD). Esmethadone and other uncompetitive NMDAR antagonists may restore physiological neural plasticity in animal models of depressive-like behavior and in patients with MDD via preferential tonic block of pathologically hyperactive GluN2D subtypes. Tonic Ca2+ currents via GluN2D subtypes regulate the homeostatic availability of synaptic proteins. MDD and depressive behaviors may be determined by reduced homeostatic availability of synaptic proteins, due to upregulated tonic Ca2+ currents through GluN2D subtypes. The preferential activity of low-potency NMDAR antagonists for GluN2D subtypes may explain their rapid antidepressant effects in the absence of dissociative side effects.
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Bonaventura J, Gomez JL, Carlton ML, Lam S, Sanchez-Soto M, Morris PJ, Moaddel R, Kang HJ, Zanos P, Gould TD, Thomas CJ, Sibley DR, Zarate CA, Michaelides M. Target deconvolution studies of (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine: an elusive search. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4144-4156. [PMID: 35768639 PMCID: PMC10013843 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01673-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The off-label use of racemic ketamine and the FDA approval of (S)-ketamine are promising developments for the treatment of depression. Nevertheless, racemic ketamine and (S)-ketamine are controlled substances with known abuse potential and their use is associated with undesirable side effects. For these reasons, research efforts have focused on identifying alternatives. One candidate is (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine ((2R,6R)-HNK), a ketamine metabolite that in preclinical models lacks the dissociative and abuse properties of ketamine while retaining its antidepressant-like behavioral efficacy. (2R,6R)-HNK's mechanism of action however is unclear. The main goals of this study were to perform an in-depth pharmacological characterization of (2R,6R)-HNK at known ketamine targets, to use target deconvolution approaches to discover novel proteins that bind to (2R,6R)-HNK, and to characterize the biodistribution and behavioral effects of (2R,6R)-HNK across several procedures related to substance use disorder liability. We found that unlike (S)- or (R)-ketamine, (2R,6R)-HNK did not directly bind to any known or proposed ketamine targets. Extensive screening and target deconvolution experiments at thousands of human proteins did not identify any other direct (2R,6R)-HNK-protein interactions. Biodistribution studies using radiolabeled (2R,6R)-HNK revealed non-selective brain regional enrichment, and no specific binding in any organ other than the liver. (2R,6R)-HNK was inactive in conditioned place preference, open-field locomotor activity, and intravenous self-administration procedures. Despite these negative findings, (2R,6R)-HNK produced a reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test and a small but significant increase in metabolic activity across a network of brain regions, and this metabolic signature differed from the brain metabolic profile induced by ketamine enantiomers. In sum, our results indicate that (2R,6R)-HNK does not share pharmacological or behavioral profile similarities with ketamine or its enantiomers. However, it could still be possible that both ketamine and (2R,6R)-HNK exert antidepressant-like efficacy through a common and previously unidentified mechanism. Given its pharmacological profile, we predict that (2R,6R)-HNK will exhibit a favorable safety profile in clinical trials, and we must wait for clinical studies to determine its antidepressant efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Bonaventura
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
- Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Juan L Gomez
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | - Meghan L Carlton
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | - Sherry Lam
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | - Marta Sanchez-Soto
- Molecular Neuropharmacology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA
| | - Patrick J Morris
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, 20850, MD, USA
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | - Hye Jin Kang
- National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, 27599, NC, USA
| | - Panos Zanos
- Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, 2109, Cyprus
| | - Todd D Gould
- Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21201, MD, USA
| | - Craig J Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, 20850, MD, USA
| | - David R Sibley
- Molecular Neuropharmacology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA
| | - Carlos A Zarate
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21205, MD, USA.
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Bettini E, Stahl SM, De Martin S, Mattarei A, Sgrignani J, Carignani C, Nola S, Locatelli P, Pappagallo M, Inturrisi CE, Bifari F, Cavalli A, Alimonti A, Pani L, Fava M, Traversa S, Folli F, Manfredi PL. Pharmacological Comparative Characterization of REL-1017 (Esmethadone-HCl) and Other NMDAR Channel Blockers in Human Heterodimeric N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15080997. [PMID: 36015145 PMCID: PMC9414551 DOI: 10.3390/ph15080997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive Ca2+ currents via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) have been implicated in many disorders. Uncompetitive NMDAR channel blockers are an emerging class of drugs in clinical use for major depressive disorder (MDD) and other neuropsychiatric diseases. The pharmacological characterization of uncompetitive NMDAR blockers in clinical use may improve our understanding of NMDAR function in physiology and pathology. REL-1017 (esmethadone-HCl), a novel uncompetitive NMDAR channel blocker in Phase 3 trials for the treatment of MDD, was characterized together with dextromethorphan, memantine, (±)-ketamine, and MK-801 in cell lines over-expressing NMDAR subtypes using fluorometric imaging plate reader (FLIPR), automated patch-clamp, and manual patch-clamp electrophysiology. In the absence of Mg2+, NMDAR subtypes NR1-2D were most sensitive to low, sub-μM glutamate concentrations in FLIPR experiments. FLIPR Ca2+ determination demonstrated low μM affinity of REL-1017 at NMDARs with minimal subtype preference. In automated and manual patch-clamp electrophysiological experiments, REL-1017 exhibited preference for the NR1-2D NMDAR subtype in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+ and 1 μM L-glutamate. Tau off and trapping characteristics were similar for (±)-ketamine and REL-1017. Results of radioligand binding assays in rat cortical neurons correlated with the estimated affinities obtained in FLIPR assays and in automated and manual patch-clamp assays. In silico studies of NMDARs in closed and open conformation indicate that REL-1017 has a higher preference for docking and undocking the open-channel conformation compared to ketamine. In conclusion, the pharmacological characteristics of REL-1017 at NMDARs, including relatively low affinity at the NMDAR, NR1-2D subtype preference in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+, tau off and degree of trapping similar to (±)-ketamine, and preferential docking and undocking of the open NMDAR, could all be important variables for understanding the rapid-onset antidepressant effects of REL-1017 without psychotomimetic side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezio Bettini
- In Vitro Pharmacology Department, Aptuit, An Evotec Company, 37135 Verona, Italy
| | - Stephen M. Stahl
- Department of Psychiatry, VAMC (SD), University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Neuroscience Education Institute, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
| | - Sara De Martin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Mattarei
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Jacopo Sgrignani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Corrado Carignani
- In Vitro Pharmacology Department, Aptuit, An Evotec Company, 37135 Verona, Italy
| | - Selena Nola
- In Vitro Pharmacology Department, Aptuit, An Evotec Company, 37135 Verona, Italy
| | - Patrizia Locatelli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Marco Pappagallo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Relmada Therapeutics, Coral Gables, FL 33134, USA
| | | | - Francesco Bifari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Alimonti
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Oncology Research, Southern Switzerland, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- The Institute of Oncology Research, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, 35129 Padua, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Zurich University, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Medicine—DIMED, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Pani
- Relmada Therapeutics, Coral Gables, FL 33134, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fava
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | - Franco Folli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo L. Manfredi
- Relmada Therapeutics, Coral Gables, FL 33134, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-786-629-1376
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Eslami F, Shayan M, Amanlou A, Rahimi N, Dejban P, Dehpour AR. Pentylenetetrazole preconditioning attenuates severity of status epilepticus induced by lithium-pilocarpine in male rats: evaluation of opioid/NMDA receptors and nitric oxide pathway. Pharmacol Rep 2022; 74:602-613. [DOI: 10.1007/s43440-022-00387-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Bifari F, Pappagallo M, Bleavins M, Traversa S, Folli F, Manfredi PL. REL-1017 (Esmethadone), A Novel NMDAR Blocker for the Treatment of MDD is Not Neurotoxic in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:863959. [PMID: 35571103 PMCID: PMC9097919 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.863959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
REL-1017 (esmethadone; dextromethadone; (S)-methadone) is the opioid-inactive dextro-isomer of the racemic mixture, (R, S)-methadone. REL-1017 acts as a low affinity, low potency N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) channel blocker with rapid, robust, and sustained therapeutic effects in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Systemic administration of NMDAR blockers may cause transient and reversible pathomorphological alterations in brain cortical neurons characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolization, which are called Olney’s lesions, and may also lead to irreversible neuronal necrosis. We determined whether REL-1017 administration via oral gavage for 1–4 days to Sprague-Dawley rats could produce Olney’s lesions and cortical neuronal death and microgliosis as compared with MK-801, a known neurotoxic potent NMDAR blocker. As previously reported, MK-801 produced Olney’s lesions, neuronal necrosis and cortical microgliosis, and impaired behavior and activity. In contrast, administration of REL-1017 at low (20–31.25 mg/kg in females and males), medium (40–62.5 mg/kg) or high (80–110 mg/kg) doses did not cause pathomorphological changes in brain neurons and did not cause impaired behavior and activity. In conclusion, REL-1017 did not produce initial or cumulative neurotoxic effects or other evidence of damage to cortical neurons, further encouraging the development of REL-1017 as a potentially safe novel candidate for rapid treatment of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bifari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Michael Bleavins
- Environmental Health Sciences and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Franco Folli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo L. Manfredi
- Relmada Therapeutics, Coral Gables, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Paolo L. Manfredi,
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Browne CA, Hildegard A Wulf BA, Jacobson ML, Oyola M, Wu TJ, Lucki I. Long-term increase in sensitivity to ketamine's behavioral effects in mice exposed to mild blast induced traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2021; 350:113963. [PMID: 34968423 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Neurobehavioral deficits emerge in nearly 50% of patients following a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may persist for months. Ketamine is used frequently as an anesthetic, analgesic and for management of persistent psychiatric complications. Although ketamine may produce beneficial effects in patients with a history of TBI, differential sensitivity to its impairing effects could make the therapeutic use of ketamine in TBI patients unsafe. This series of studies examined male C57BL/6 J mice exposed to a mild single blast overpressure (mbTBI) for indications of altered sensitivity to ketamine at varying times after injury. Dystaxia (altered gait), diminished sensorimotor gating (reduced prepulse inhibition) impaired working memory (step-down inhibitory avoidance) were examined in mbTBI and sham animals 15 min following intraperitoneal injections of saline or R,S-ketamine hydrochloride, from day 7-16 post injury and again from day 35-43 post injury. Behavioral performance in the forced swim test and sucrose preference test were evaluated on day 28 and day 74 post injury respectively, 24 h following drug administration. Dynamic gait stability was compromised in mbTBI mice on day 7 and 35 post injury and further exacerbated following ketamine administration. On day 14 and 42 post injury, prepulse inhibition was robustly decreased by mbTBI, which ketamine further reduced. Ketamine-associated memory impairment was apparent selectively in mbTBI animals 1 h, 24 h and day 28 post shock (tested on day 15/16/43 post injury). Ketamine selectively reduced immobility scores in the FST in mbTBI animals (day 28) and reversed mbTBI induced decreases in sucrose consumption (Day 74). These results demonstrate increased sensitivity to ketamine in mice when tested for extended periods after TBI. The results suggest that ketamine may be effective for treating neuropsychiatric complications that emerge after TBI but urge caution when used in clinical practice for enhanced sensitivity to its side effects in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Browne
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America.
| | - B A Hildegard A Wulf
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America
| | - Moriah L Jacobson
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America
| | - Mario Oyola
- Department of Gynecologic Surgery & Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America
| | - T John Wu
- Department of Gynecologic Surgery & Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States of America
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Choudhury D, Autry AE, Tolias KF, Krishnan V. Ketamine: Neuroprotective or Neurotoxic? Front Neurosci 2021; 15:672526. [PMID: 34566558 PMCID: PMC8461018 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.672526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, has been employed clinically as an intravenous anesthetic since the 1970s. More recently, ketamine has received attention for its rapid antidepressant effects and is actively being explored as a treatment for a wide range of neuropsychiatric syndromes. In model systems, ketamine appears to display a combination of neurotoxic and neuroprotective properties that are context dependent. At anesthetic doses applied during neurodevelopmental windows, ketamine contributes to inflammation, autophagy, apoptosis, and enhances levels of reactive oxygen species. At the same time, subanesthetic dose ketamine is a powerful activator of multiple parallel neurotrophic signaling cascades with neuroprotective actions that are not always NMDAR-dependent. Here, we summarize results from an array of preclinical studies that highlight a complex landscape of intracellular signaling pathways modulated by ketamine and juxtapose the somewhat contrasting neuroprotective and neurotoxic features of this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Choudhury
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Anita E. Autry
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Kimberley F. Tolias
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vaishnav Krishnan
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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