Adenosinergic system is involved in development of diazepam tolerance in mice

Caffeine attenuates seizure and brain mitochondrial disruption induced by Tramadol: the role of adenosinergic pathway

Tramadol (TR) is an analgesic drug used to treat moderate-to-severe pain but it induces seizure even at therapeutic doses. The exact mechanism of TR-inducing seizure is not clear but inhibition of the serotonin, GABA, and nitrous oxide (NOS) pathways are the commonly proposed mechanisms. Adenosinergic system has a crucial function in the modulation of seizure. Also, oxidative damage is an unavoidable effect of the seizure. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of the adenosinergic system on the seizure and oxidative stress biomarkers induced by TR using antagonist of the adenosinergic receptors in the Albino mice. For that purpose, generated clonic seizure, as seizure threshold, was evaluated by TR. Caffeine (CAF; 8 mg/kg, i.p.), a nonselective antagonist of adenosine receptors, was administered 1 hour before the seizure induction. The seizure threshold significantly increased by CAF-treated group when compared to TR group (p < 0.001). Oxidative stress biomarkers such as reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl content, and lipid peroxidation significantly decreased and glutathione content significantly increased by CAF in brain mitochondria compared to the TR group, whereas oxidative biomarkers significantly increased in the TR group compared to the control group. The results of the present study suggested that the adenosinergic system is involved in seizure induced by TR and meanwhile, inhibition of adenosine receptors can decrease the TR seizure threshold and also decrease the induced oxidative damage in the brain mitochondria.

Effect of Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) on Sleep Quality of Menopausal Women: A Double-blinded, Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial

Objectives

Aim of present study was designed to investigate the soporific effect of fennel among menopausal women.

Methods

The present double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial examined the fennel effect on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Total score and relevant 7 components, including sleep duration, sleep latency, use of sleeping medication, subjective sleep quality, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction and habitual sleep efficiency among 50 menopausal women compared to control group within a 12-week follow-up.

Results

The patients in both groups reported no certain side effects and all subjects completed the study. The mean actual sleep duration was 5 hours and 66 minutes. Intergroup comparison revealed no statistically significant differences in the mean total PSQI score (P = 0.439), subjective sleep quality (P = 0.826), habitual sleep efficiency (P = 0.127), sleep disturbances (P = 0.130), use of sleeping medication (P = 0.52) and daytime dysfunction (P = 0.439). A tendency toward significant between 2 groups was seen concerning the sleep duration (P = 0.059). Intergroup comparison showed significantly borderline levels (P = 0.059).

Conclusions

The treatment of 12 weeks with fennel caused a slight effect that did not reach to significant. These findings should be considered cautiously because of small sample size, short-term follow-up and subjective measure of sleep quality.

Effects of NMDA antagonists on the development and expression of tolerance to diazepam-induced motor impairment in mice

The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of ketamine and memantine on the development and expression of tolerance to diazepam (DZ)-induced motor impairment in mice. DZ-induced motor incoordination was assessed by the rotarod and chimney tests. It was found that (a) ketamine, at the dose of 5mg/kg (but not 2.5mg/kg), decreased the expression, but not the development, of tolerance to the motor impairing effects of DZ, (b) memantine, at the doses of 5 and 10mg/kg decreased both the development and expression of DZ tolerance in the rotarod test (also in the chimney test but at the higher dose of 10mg/kg) and (c) ketamine and memantine alone had no effect, either in the rotarod or the chimney test in mice. Those findings provided behavioral evidence that the glutamatergic system could contribute an important role in the development and/or expression of tolerance to DZ in mice.

The antinociceptive effect of 4-substituted derivatives of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione in mice

The aim of the present experiments was to examine the antinociceptive activity of 4-substituted derivatives of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione in mice. The compounds were synthesized using the so-called Mannich reaction and their structures were confirmed using IR and 1H-NMR spectra. The antinociceptive activity was investigated in two behavioral tests: the hot plate test and the writhing test. For preliminary estimation of other behavioral effects, the locomotor activity of mice, the motor coordination in the rota-rod test, and the myorelaxation in the chimney test were also studied. The changes in body temperature of animals were also recorded. We demonstrated that all examined compounds produced antinociceptive effect, both in the hot plate test and in the writhing test, without impact on the motor coordination and myorelaxation of animals. The pharmacological effect of all drugs has been developed within 60 min after administration of drugs; and in two cases (T-103 and T-104), it has been a short-lasting effect (up to 90 min). Two compounds (T-100 and T-102) also inhibited the locomotor activity of animals. T-104 induced the changes in body temperature of mice. Generally, we demonstrated that combination of two different heterocyclic systems (morpholine and 1,2,4-triazole) might be beneficial for reduction of nociception.

Psychopharmacological profile of Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) essential oil in mice

In this study, the effect of Matricaria recutita L. essential oil (MEO) on the central nervous system (CNS) of mice was investigated using some behavioral methods. Chemical profiling both by GC and GC-MS analyses of the hydrodistilled essential oil of M. recutita revealed α-bisabolol oxide A (28%), α-bisabolol oxide B (17.1%), (Z)-β-Farnesene (15.9%) and α-bisabolol (6.8%) as the main components. Changes induced by MEO (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) and reference drug caffeine (25 mg/kg) in spontaneous locomotor activities and motor coordinations of mice were investigated by activity cage measurements and Rota-Rod tests, respectively. Open field, social interaction and elevated plus-maze tests were applied to assess the emotional state of the animals. Further, tail-suspension test was performed for evaluating the effect of MEO on depression levels of mice. As a result, at 50 and 100 mg/kg, MEO significantly increased the numbers of spontaneous locomotor activities, exhibited anxiogenic effect in the open field, elevated plus-maze and social interaction tests and decreased the immobility times of animals in tail suspension tests. The falling latencies in Rota-Rod tests did not change. This activity profile of MEO was similar to the typical psychostimulant caffeine. The exact mechanism of action underlying this stimulant-like effect should be clarified with further detailed studies.