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Fu C, Xiao Y, Zhou X, Sun Z. Insight into binding of endogenous neurosteroid ligands to the sigma-1 receptor. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5619. [PMID: 38965213 PMCID: PMC11224282 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49894-7] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) is a non-opioid membrane receptor, which responds to a diverse array of synthetic ligands to exert various pharmacological effects. Meanwhile, candidates for endogenous ligands of σ1R have also been identified. However, how endogenous ligands bind to σ1R remains unknown. Here, we present crystal structures of σ1R from Xenopus laevis (xlσ1R) bound to two endogenous neurosteroid ligands, progesterone (a putative antagonist) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (a putative agonist), at 2.15-3.09 Å resolutions. Both neurosteroids bind to a similar location in xlσ1R mainly through hydrophobic interactions, but surprisingly, with opposite binding orientations. DHEAS also forms hydrogen bonds with xlσ1R, whereas progesterone interacts indirectly with the receptor through water molecules near the binding site. Binding analyses are consistent with the xlσ1R-neurosteroid complex structures. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations and structural data reveal a potential water entry pathway. Our results provide insight into binding of two endogenous neurosteroid ligands to σ1R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunting Fu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhou
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Ziyi Sun
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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2
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Xie D, Song C, Qin T, Zhai Z, Cai J, Dai J, Sun T, Xu Y. Moschus ameliorates glutamate-induced cellular damage by regulating autophagy and apoptosis pathway. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18586. [PMID: 37903904 PMCID: PMC10616123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45878-7] [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: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, causes short-term memory and cognition declines. It is estimated that one in three elderly people die from AD or other dementias. Chinese herbal medicine as a potential drug for treating AD has gained growing interest from many researchers. Moschus, a rare and valuable traditional Chinese animal medicine, was originally documented in Shennong Ben Cao Jing and recognized for its properties of reviving consciousness/resuscitation. Additionally, Moschus has the efficacy of "regulation of menstruation with blood activation, relief of swelling and pain" and is used for treating unconsciousness, stroke, coma, and cerebrovascular diseases. However, it is uncertain whether Moschus has any protective effect on AD patients. We explored whether Moschus could protect glutamate (Glu)-induced PC12 cells from cellular injury and preliminarily explored their related action mechanisms. The chemical compounds of Moschus were analyzed and identified by GC-MS. The Glu-induced differentiated PC12 cell model was thought to be the common AD cellular model. The study aims to preliminarily investigate the intervention effect of Moschus on Glu-induced PC12 cell damage as well as their related action mechanisms. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell apoptosis, autophagic vacuoles, autolysosomes or autophagosomes, proteins related to apoptosis, and the proteins related to autophagy were examined and analyzed. Seventeen active compounds of the Moschus sample were identified based on GC-MS analysis. In comparison to the control group, Glu stimulation increased cell viability loss, LDH release, mitochondrial damage, loss of MMP, apoptosis rate, and the number of cells containing autophagic vacuoles, and autolysosomes or autophagosomes, while these results were decreased after the pretreatment with Moschus and 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Furthermore, Glu stimulation significantly increased cleaved caspase-3, Beclin1, and LC3II protein expression, and reduced B-cell lymphoma 2/BAX ratio and p62 protein expression, but these results were reversed after pretreatment of Moschus and 3-MA. Moschus has protective activity in Glu-induced PC12 cell injury, and the potential mechanism might involve the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. Our study may promote research on Moschus in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, and Moschus may be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Caiyou Song
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Tao Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zhenwei Zhai
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jie Cai
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jingyi Dai
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Tao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Ying Xu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, China.
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Boero G, McFarland MH, Tyler RE, O’Buckley TK, Chéry SL, Robinson DL, Besheer J, Morrow AL. Deleterious Interaction between the Neurosteroid (3α,5α)3-Hydroxypregnan-20-One (3α,5α-THP) and the Mu-Opioid System Activation during Forced Swim Stress in Rats. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1205. [PMID: 37627270 PMCID: PMC10452864 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081205] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurosteroid 3α,5α-THP is a potent GABAA receptor-positive modulator and its regulatory action on the HPA axis stress response has been reported in numerous preclinical and clinical studies. We previously demonstrated that 3α,5α-THP down-regulation of HPA axis activity during stress is sex-, brain region- and stressor-dependent. In this study, we observed a deleterious submersion behavior in response to 3α,5α-THP (15 mg/kg) during forced swim stress (FSS) that led us to investigate how 3α,5α-THP might affect behavioral coping strategies engaged in by the animal. Given the well-established involvement of the opioid system in HPA axis activation and its interaction with GABAergic neurosteroids, we explored the synergic effects of 3α,5α-THP/opiate system activation in this behavior. Serum β-endorphin (β-EP) was elevated by FSS and enhanced by 3α,5α-THP + FSS. Hypothalamic Mu-opiate receptors (MOP) were increased in female rats by 3α,5α-THP + FSS. Pretreatment with the MOP antagonist D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTAP; 2 mg/kg, IP) reversed submersion behavior in males. Moreover, in both males and females, CTAP pretreatment decreased immobility episodes while increasing immobility duration but did not alter swimming duration. This interaction between 3α,5α-THP and the opioid system in the context of FSS might be important in the development of treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders involving HPA axis activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Boero
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Minna H. McFarland
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
| | - Ryan E. Tyler
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
| | - Todd K. O’Buckley
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
| | - Samantha L. Chéry
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
| | - Donita L. Robinson
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - A. Leslie Morrow
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3027 Thurston Bowles Bldg., CB 7178, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (G.B.)
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Szczurowska E, Szánti-Pintér E, Chetverikov N, Randáková A, Kudová E, Jakubík J. Modulation of Muscarinic Signalling in the Central Nervous System by Steroid Hormones and Neurosteroids. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010507. [PMID: 36613951 PMCID: PMC9820491 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in the central nervous system mediate various functions, including cognition, memory, or reward. Therefore, muscarinic receptors represent potential pharmacological targets for various diseases and conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, addiction, epilepsy, or depression. Muscarinic receptors are allosterically modulated by neurosteroids and steroid hormones at physiologically relevant concentrations. In this review, we focus on the modulation of muscarinic receptors by neurosteroids and steroid hormones in the context of diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. Further, we propose the potential use of neuroactive steroids in the development of pharmacotherapeutics for these diseases and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Szczurowska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eszter Szánti-Pintér
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nikolai Chetverikov
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Randáková
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Kudová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí 2, Prague 6, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (E.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (E.K.); (J.J.)
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Sałaciak K, Pytka K. Revisiting the sigma-1 receptor as a biological target to treat affective and cognitive disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 132:1114-1136. [PMID: 34736882 PMCID: PMC8559442 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Depression and cognitive disorders are diseases with complex and not-fully understood etiology. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the prevalence of both conditions. Since the current treatments are inadequate in many patients, there is a constant need for discovering new compounds, which will be more effective in ameliorating depressive symptoms and treating cognitive decline. Proteins attracting much attention as potential targets for drugs treating these conditions are sigma-1 receptors. Sigma-1 receptors are multi-functional proteins localized in endoplasmic reticulum membranes, which play a crucial role in cellular signal transduction by interacting with receptors, ion channels, lipids, and kinases. Changes in their functions and expression may lead to various diseases, including depression or memory impairments. Thus, sigma-1 receptor modulation might be useful in treating these central nervous system diseases. Importantly, two sigma-1 receptor ligands entered clinical trials, showing that this compound group possesses therapeutic potential. Therefore, based on preclinical studies, this review discusses whether the sigma-1 receptor could be a promising target for drugs treating affective and cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Sałaciak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Karolina Pytka
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland.
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Rajagopal L, Soni D, Meltzer HY. Neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate, alone, and as augmentation of lurasidone or tandospirone, rescues phencyclidine-induced deficits in cognitive function and social interaction. Behav Brain Res 2018; 350:31-43. [PMID: 29763637 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnenolone sulfate (PregS), an endogenous neurosteroid, which negatively and positively modulates gamma amino butyric acid subunit A (GABAA) and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (R) respectively, among other potential neuroplastic changes on synaptic processes, has shown some beneficial effects on treating cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) and negative symptoms. Lurasidone (Lur), an atypical antipsychotic drug (AAPD), and tandospirone (Tan), a 5-HT1A R partial agonist, have also been reported to improve cognitive or negative symptoms, or both, in some schizophrenia patients. METHODS We tested whether PregS, by itself, and in combination with Lur or Tan could rescue persistent deficits produced by subchronic treatment with the NMDAR antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP)-in episodic memory, executive functioning, and social behavior, using novel object recognition (NOR), operant reversal learning (ORL), and social interaction (SI) tasks, in male C57BL/6 J mice. RESULTS PregS (10, but not 3 mg/kg) significantly rescued subchronic PCP-induced NOR and SI deficits. Co-administration of sub-effective doses (SEDs) of PregS (3 mg/kg) + Lur (0.1 mg/kg) or Tan (0.03 mg/kg) rescued scPCP-induced NOR and SI deficits. Further, PregS (30, but not 10 mg/kg) rescued PCP-induced ORL deficit, as did the combination of SED PregS (10 mg/kg) +SED Lur (1 mg/kg) or Tan (1 mg/kg). CONCLUSION PregS was effective alone and as adjunctive treatment for treating two types of cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in this schizophrenia model. Further study of the mechanisms by which PregS alone and in combination with AAPDs and 5-HT1A R partial agonists, rescues the deficits in cognition and SI in this preclinical model is indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Rajagopal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL 60611, USA
| | - D Soni
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL 60611, USA
| | - H Y Meltzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL 60611, USA.
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7
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Shen B, Behera D, James ML, Reyes ST, Andrews L, Cipriano PW, Klukinov M, Lutz AB, Mavlyutov T, Rosenberg J, Ruoho AE, McCurdy CR, Gambhir SS, Yeomans DC, Biswal S, Chin FT. Visualizing Nerve Injury in a Neuropathic Pain Model with [ 18F]FTC-146 PET/MRI. Theranostics 2017; 7:2794-2805. [PMID: 28824716 PMCID: PMC5562216 DOI: 10.7150/thno.19378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to locate nerve injury and ensuing neuroinflammation would have tremendous clinical value for improving both the diagnosis and subsequent management of patients suffering from pain, weakness, and other neurologic phenomena associated with peripheral nerve injury. Although several non-invasive techniques exist for assessing the clinical manifestations and morphological aspects of nerve injury, they often fail to provide accurate diagnoses due to limited specificity and/or sensitivity. Herein, we describe a new imaging strategy for visualizing a molecular biomarker of nerve injury/neuroinflammation, i.e., the sigma-1 receptor (S1R), in a rat model of nerve injury and neuropathic pain. The two-fold higher increase of S1Rs was shown in the injured compared to the uninjured nerve by Western blotting analyses. With our novel S1R-selective radioligand, [18F]FTC-146 (6-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-3-(2-(azepan-1-yl)ethyl)benzo[d]thiazol-2(3H)-one), and positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), we could accurately locate the site of nerve injury created in the rat model. We verified the accuracy of this technique by ex vivo autoradiography and immunostaining, which demonstrated a strong correlation between accumulation of [18F]FTC-146 and S1R staining. Finally, pain relief could also be achieved by blocking S1Rs in the neuroma with local administration of non-radioactive [19F]FTC-146. In summary, [18F]FTC-146 S1R PET/MR imaging has the potential to impact how we diagnose, manage and treat patients with nerve injury, and thus warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Shen
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Deepak Behera
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michelle L. James
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Samantha T. Reyes
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lauren Andrews
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter W. Cipriano
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael Klukinov
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Amanda Brosius Lutz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Timur Mavlyutov
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Jarrett Rosenberg
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Arnold E. Ruoho
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Christopher R. McCurdy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Sanjiv S. Gambhir
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Materials Sciences & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David C. Yeomans
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sandip Biswal
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Frederick T. Chin
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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8
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Chen T, Tanaka M, Wang Y, Sha S, Furuya K, Chen L, Sokabe M. Neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone enhances activity and trafficking of astrocytic GLT-1 via σ 1 receptor-mediated PKC activation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rats. Glia 2017; 65:1491-1503. [PMID: 28581152 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to exert a potent neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. One of the possible mechanisms may be an involvement of astrocytic glutamate transporter subtype-1 (GLT-1) that can quickly clear spilled glutamate at the synapse to prevent excitotoxicity. To examine the effect of DHEA on GLT-1 activity, we measured synaptically induced glial depolarization (SIGD) in the dentate gyrus (DG) of adult rats by applying an optical recording technique to the hippocampal slices stained with voltage-sensitive dye RH155. Bath-application of DHEA for 10 min dose-dependently increased SIGD without changing presynaptic glutamate releases, which was sensitive to the GLT-1 blocker DHK. Patch-clamp recordings in astrocytes showed that an application of 50 μM DHEA increased glutamate-evoked inward currents (Iglu) by approximately 1.5-fold, which was dependent on the GLT-1 activity. In addition, the level of biotinylated GLT-1 protein in the surface of astrocytes was significantly elevated by DHEA. The DHEA-increased SIGD, Iglu, and GLT-1 translocation to the cell surface were blocked by the σ1 R antagonist NE100 and mimicked by the σ1 R agonist PRE084. DHEA elevated the phosphorylation level of PKC in a σ1 R-dependent manner. Furthermore, the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine could prevent the DHEA-increased SIGD, Iglu, and GLT-1 translocation. Collectively, present results suggest that DHEA enhances the activity and translocation to cell surface of astrocytic GLT-1 mainly via σ1 R-mediated PKC cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Chen
- Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Tianyuan East Road 818, Nanjing, China
| | - Motoki Tanaka
- Mechanobiology Laboratory, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Ya Wang
- Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Tianyuan East Road 818, Nanjing, China
| | - Sha Sha
- Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Tianyuan East Road 818, Nanjing, China
| | - Kishio Furuya
- ICORP/SORST Cell Mechanosensing, JST, 65 Tsurumai, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Tianyuan East Road 818, Nanjing, China.,Mechanobiology Laboratory, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sokabe
- Mechanobiology Laboratory, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.,ICORP/SORST Cell Mechanosensing, JST, 65 Tsurumai, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
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9
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Baum E, Cai Z, Bois F, Holden D, Lin SF, Lara-Jaime T, Kapinos M, Chen Y, Deuther-Conrad W, Fischer S, Dukic-Stefanovic S, Bunse P, Wünsch B, Brust P, Jia H, Huang Y. PET Imaging Evaluation of Four σ 1 Radiotracers in Nonhuman Primates. J Nucl Med 2017; 58:982-988. [PMID: 28232607 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.116.188052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The σ1 receptors (S1Rs) are implicated in a variety of diseases including Alzheimer disease and cancer. Previous PET S1R radiotracers are characterized by slow kinetics or off-target binding that impedes their use in humans. Here, we report the first PET imaging evaluation in rhesus monkeys of 4 18F-labeled spirocyclic piperidine-based PET radiotracers (18F-1 to 18F-4). Methods: Baseline scans for the 4 radiotracers were obtained on an adult male rhesus monkey. Blocking scans were obtained with the S1R-selective agonist SA4503 to assess binding specificity of 18F-2 and 18F-4 Arterial input functions were measured, and binding parameters were determined with kinetic modeling analysis. Results: In the rhesus brain, all 4 radiotracers showed high and fast uptake. Tissue activity washout was rapid for 18F-2 and 18F-4, and much slower for 18F-1 and 18F-3, in line with their respective in vitro S1R-binding affinities. Both the 1-tissue-compartment and multilinear analysis-1 kinetic models provided good fits of time-activity curves and reliable estimates of distribution volume. Regional distribution volume values were highest in the cingulate cortex and lowest in the thalamus for all radiotracers. 18F-4 showed greater differential uptake across brain regions and 3-fold-higher binding potential than 18F-2 SA4503 at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg blocked approximately 85% (18F-2) and 95% (18F-4) of radiotracer binding. Conclusion: Tracers 18F-2 and 18F-4 displayed high brain uptake and fast tissue kinetics, with 18F-4 having higher specific binding signals than 18F-2 in the same monkey. Taken together, these data indicate that both 18F-2 and 18F-4 possess the requisite kinetic and imaging properties as viable PET tracers for imaging S1R in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Baum
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Zhengxin Cai
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Frederic Bois
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Daniel Holden
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Shu-Fei Lin
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Teresa Lara-Jaime
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Michael Kapinos
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Winnie Deuther-Conrad
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Leipzig, Germany; and
| | - Steffen Fischer
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Leipzig, Germany; and
| | - Sladjana Dukic-Stefanovic
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Leipzig, Germany; and
| | - Paul Bunse
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bernhard Wünsch
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Peter Brust
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Leipzig, Germany; and
| | - Hongmei Jia
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiyun Huang
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
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10
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Pitsikas N, Gravanis A. The novel dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative BNN27 counteracts delay-dependent and scopolamine-induced recognition memory deficits in rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 140:145-153. [PMID: 28274826 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Experimental evidence indicates that the neurosteroids dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) are involved in cognition. BNN27 is a novel 17C spiroepoxy-DHEA derivative, which devoid of steroidogenic activity. The neuroprotective effects of BNN27 have been recently reported. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of BNN27 on recognition memory in rats. For this purpose, the novel object task (NOT), a procedure assessing non-spatial recognition memory and the novel location task (NLT), a procedure evaluating spatial recognition memory were used. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of BNN27 (3 and 10mg/kg) antagonized delay-dependent deficits in the NOT in the normal rat, suggesting that this DHEA derivative affected acquisition, storage and retrieval of information. In addition, BNN27 (3 and 10mg/kg, i.p.) counteracted the scopolamine [0.2mg/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.)]-induced non-spatial and spatial recognition memory deficits. These findings suggest that BNN27 may modulate different aspects of recognition memory, potentially interacting with the cholinergic system, relevant to cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Pitsikas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
| | - Achille Gravanis
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, and Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation of Research & Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
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11
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Maurice T, Goguadze N. Role of σ 1 Receptors in Learning and Memory and Alzheimer's Disease-Type Dementia. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 964:213-233. [PMID: 28315274 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-50174-1_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The present chapter will review the role of σ1 receptor in learning and memory and neuroprotection , against Alzheimer's type dementia. σ1 Receptor agonists have been tested in a variety of pharmacological and pathological models of learning impairments in rodents these last past 20 years. Their anti-amnesic effects have been explained by the wide-range modulatory role of σ1 receptors on Ca2+ mobilizations, neurotransmitter responses, and particularly glutamate and acetylcholine systems, and neurotrophic factors. Recent observations from genetic and pharmacological studies have shown that σ1 receptor can also be targeted in neurodegenerative diseases, and particularly Alzheimer's disease . Several compounds, acting partly through the σ1 receptor, have showed effective neuroprotection in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease . We will review the data and discuss the possible mechanisms of action, particularly focusing on oxidative stress and mitochondrial integrity, trophic factors and a novel hypothesis suggesting a functional interaction between the σ1 receptor and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Finally, we will discuss the pharmacological peculiarities of non-selective σ1 receptor ligands, now developed as neuroprotectants in Alzheimer's disease , and positive modulators, recently described and that showed efficacy against learning and memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tangui Maurice
- INSERM U1198, University of Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.
| | - Nino Goguadze
- INSERM U1198, University of Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, 0162, GA, USA
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12
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Kusano R, Fujita K, Shinoda Y, Nagaura Y, Kiyonari H, Abe T, Watanabe T, Matsui Y, Fukaya M, Sakagami H, Sato T, Funahashi JI, Ohnishi M, Tamura S, Kobayashi T. Targeted disruption of the mouse protein phosphataseppm1lgene leads to structural abnormalities in the brain. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:3606-3615. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rie Kusano
- Department of Biochemistry; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Kousuke Fujita
- Department of Biochemistry; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Yasuharu Shinoda
- Department of Biochemistry; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Yuko Nagaura
- Department of Biochemistry; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kiyonari
- Animal Resource Development Unit; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies; Kobe Japan
- Genetic Engineering Team; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies; Kobe Japan
| | - Takaya Abe
- Genetic Engineering Team; RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies; Kobe Japan
| | - Toshio Watanabe
- Department of Biological Science; Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences; Nara Women's University; Nara Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Matsui
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Masahiro Fukaya
- Department of Anatomy; Kitasato University School of Medicine; Sagamihara Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sakagami
- Department of Anatomy; Kitasato University School of Medicine; Sagamihara Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sato
- Creative interdisciplinary Research Division; The Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Jun-ichi Funahashi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Motoko Ohnishi
- Department of Biological Chemistry; College of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Chubu University; Kasugai Japan
| | - Shinri Tamura
- Department of Biochemistry; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
| | - Takayasu Kobayashi
- Department of Biochemistry; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
- Center for Gene Research; Tohoku University; Sendai Japan
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13
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Abdel-Hafiz L, Chao OY, Huston JP, Nikolaus S, Spieler RE, de Souza Silva MA, Mattern C. Promnestic effects of intranasally applied pregnenolone in rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 133:185-195. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Soung HS, Wang MH, Tseng HC, Fang HW, Chang KC. (−)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate decreases the stress-induced impairment of learning and memory in rats. Neurosci Lett 2015; 602:27-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abstract
This review compares the biological and physiological function of Sigma receptors [σRs] and their potential therapeutic roles. Sigma receptors are widespread in the central nervous system and across multiple peripheral tissues. σRs consist of sigma receptor one (σ1R) and sigma receptor two (σ2R) and are expressed in numerous regions of the brain. The sigma receptor was originally proposed as a subtype of opioid receptors and was suggested to contribute to the delusions and psychoses induced by benzomorphans such as SKF-10047 and pentazocine. Later studies confirmed that σRs are non-opioid receptors (not an µ opioid receptor) and play a more diverse role in intracellular signaling, apoptosis and metabolic regulation. σ1Rs are intracellular receptors acting as chaperone proteins that modulate Ca2+ signaling through the IP3 receptor. They dynamically translocate inside cells, hence are transmembrane proteins. The σ1R receptor, at the mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane, is responsible for mitochondrial metabolic regulation and promotes mitochondrial energy depletion and apoptosis. Studies have demonstrated that they play a role as a modulator of ion channels (K+ channels; N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors [NMDAR]; inositol 1,3,5 triphosphate receptors) and regulate lipid transport and metabolism, neuritogenesis, cellular differentiation and myelination in the brain. σ1R modulation of Ca2+ release, modulation of cardiac myocyte contractility and may have links to G-proteins. It has been proposed that σ1Rs are intracellular signal transduction amplifiers. This review of the literature examines the mechanism of action of the σRs, their interaction with neurotransmitters, pharmacology, location and adverse effects mediated through them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin G Rousseaux
- a Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , ON , Canada and
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Malik M, Rangel-Barajas C, Sumien N, Su C, Singh M, Chen Z, Huang RQ, Meunier J, Maurice T, Mach RH, Luedtke RR. The effects of sigma (σ1) receptor-selective ligands on muscarinic receptor antagonist-induced cognitive deficits in mice. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:2519-31. [PMID: 25573298 PMCID: PMC4409904 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cognitive deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury and stroke often involve alterations in cholinergic signalling. Currently available therapeutic drugs provide only symptomatic relief. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are needed to retard and/or arrest the progressive loss of memory. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Scopolamine-induced memory impairment provides a rapid and reversible phenotypic screening paradigm for cognition enhancement drug discovery. Male C57BL/6J mice given scopolamine (1 mg·kg(-1) ) were used to evaluate the ability of LS-1-137, a novel sigma (σ1) receptor-selective agonist, to improve the cognitive deficits associated with muscarinic antagonist administration. KEY RESULTS LS-1-137 is a high-affinity (Ki = 3.2 nM) σ1 receptor agonist that is 80-fold selective for σ1, compared with σ2 receptors. LS-1-137 binds with low affinity at D2-like (D2, D3 and D4) dopamine and muscarinic receptors. LS-1-137 was found to partially reverse the learning deficits associated with scopolamine administration using a water maze test and an active avoidance task. LS-1-137 treatment was also found to trigger the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor from rat astrocytes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The σ1 receptor-selective compound LS-1-137 may represent a novel candidate cognitive enhancer for the treatment of muscarinic receptor-dependent cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maninder Malik
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Claudia Rangel-Barajas
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Nathalie Sumien
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Chang Su
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Meharvan Singh
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Zhenglan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Ren-Qi Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Johann Meunier
- AMYLGENMontferrier-surLez, France
- 3 INSERM U. 710Montpellier, France
| | - Tangui Maurice
- AMYLGENMontferrier-surLez, France
- 3 INSERM U. 710Montpellier, France
- University of MontpellierMontpellier, France
| | - Robert H Mach
- Department of Radiology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert R Luedtke
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX, USA
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17
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Acetaldehyde self-administration by a two-bottle choice paradigm: consequences on emotional reactivity, spatial learning, and memory. Alcohol 2015; 49:139-48. [PMID: 25636827 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Acetaldehyde, the first alcohol metabolite, is responsible for many pharmacological effects that are not clearly distinguishable from those exerted by its parent compound. It alters motor performance, induces reinforced learning and motivated behavior, and produces different reactions according to the route of administration and the relative accumulation in the brain or in the periphery. The effective activity of oral acetaldehyde represents an unresolved field of inquiry that deserves further investigation. Thus, this study explores the acquisition and maintenance of acetaldehyde drinking behavior in adult male rats, employing a two-bottle choice paradigm for water and acetaldehyde solution (from 0.9% to 3.2% v/v), over 8 weeks. The behavioral consequences exerted by chronic acetaldehyde intake are assessed by a set of different tests: trials in an open-field arena and elevated-plus maze provided information on both general motor and explorative activity, and anxiety-driven behavioral responses. The Morris water maze allowed the exploration of cognitive processes such as spatial learning and memory. Determination of acetaldehyde levels in the brain was carried out at the end of the drinking paradigm. Our results indicate that rats exposed for the first time to acetaldehyde at 0.9% displayed a regular and stable daily drinking pattern that reached higher values and a "peaks and drops" shaped-trend when acetaldehyde concentration was increased to 3.2%. Accordingly, an increase in acetaldehyde levels in the brain was determined compared to non-acetaldehyde drinking rats. Acetaldehyde intake during the free-choice paradigm exerted an anxiogenic response in the open-field arena and elevated-plus maze, which in turn correlates with an enhancement in cognitive flexibility and spatial orientation skills, when an adaptive response to a stressful environmental challenge was required. These findings further support the idea that acetaldehyde is indeed a centrally active and behaviorally relevant metabolite of alcohol.
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18
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Manohar M, Banister SD, Beinat C, O'Brien-Brown J, Kassiou M. Recent Advances in the Development of Sigma-1 Receptor Ligands. Aust J Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/ch14590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The existence of two distinct sigma (σ) receptor subtypes was established in the early 1990s. Sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors (S1Rs and S2Rs, respectively) were shown to possess distinct molecular size, anatomical distribution, and ligand discrimination. S2R is overexpressed in numerous human cancers, and has therapeutic potential for the imaging and treatment of certain tumours. In contrast, S1R is more broadly involved in a wide variety of central nervous system (CNS) diseases including motor disorders, memory deficits, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, pain, drug addiction, and many more. Since the human S1R was cloned in 1996, numerous high affinity ligands with excellent selectivity for S1R have been developed. This review focuses on recent developments in the generation of structurally diverse S1R-selective ligands and novel therapeutic candidates targeting S1Rs.
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19
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Maggio M, De Vita F, Fisichella A, Colizzi E, Provenzano S, Lauretani F, Luci M, Ceresini G, Dall'Aglio E, Caffarra P, Valenti G, Ceda GP. DHEA and cognitive function in the elderly. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2015; 145:281-92. [PMID: 24794824 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The adrenal prohormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate conjugate (DHEAS) steadily decrease with age by 10% per decade reaching a nadir after the age of 80. Both DHEA and DHEAS (DHEA/S) exert many biological activities in different tissues and organs. In particular, DHEA and DHEAS are produced de novo in the brain, hence their classification as neurosteroids. In humans, the brain-to-plasma ratios for DHEA and DHEAS are 4-6.5 and 8.5, respectively, indicating a specific neuroendocrine role for these hormones. DHEA/S stimulates neurite growth, neurogenesis and neuronal survival, apoptosis, catecholamine synthesis and secretion. Together with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-glucocorticoid properties, it has been hypothesized a neuroprotective effect for DHEA/S. We conducted an accurate research of the literature using PubMed. In the period of time between 1994 and 2013, we selected the observational human studies testing the relationship between DHEA/S and cognitive function in both sexes. The studies are presented according to the cross-sectional and longitudinal design and to the positive or neutral effects on different domains of cognitive function. We also analysed the Clinical Trials, available in the literature, having cognitive domains as the main or secondary outcome. Although the cross-sectional evidence of a positive association between DHEA/S and cognitive function, longitudinal studies and RCTs using DHEA oral treatment (50mg/day) in normal or demented adult-older subjects, have produced conflicting and inconsistent results. In summary, the current data do not provide clear evidence for the usefulness of DHEA treatment to improve cognitive function in adult-older subjects. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Essential role of DHEA'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Maggio
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Food Sciences Unit and Endocrinology of Aging Unit, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy.
| | - Francesca De Vita
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Alberto Fisichella
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Elena Colizzi
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Sandra Provenzano
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Fulvio Lauretani
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Michele Luci
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Graziano Ceresini
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Food Sciences Unit and Endocrinology of Aging Unit, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Elisabetta Dall'Aglio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Food Sciences Unit and Endocrinology of Aging Unit, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Paolo Caffarra
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma (PR), Italy; Outpatient Clinic for the Diagnosis and Therapy of Cognitive Disorders, AUSL, Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Giorgio Valenti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Food Sciences Unit and Endocrinology of Aging Unit, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Ceda
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Food Sciences Unit and Endocrinology of Aging Unit, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43126 Parma (PR), Italy
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20
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Su J, Hato-Yamada N, Araki H, Yoshimura H. Test-retest paradigm of the forced swimming test in female mice is not valid for predicting antidepressant-like activity: participation of acetylcholine and sigma-1 receptors. J Pharmacol Sci 2013; 123:246-55. [PMID: 24162025 DOI: 10.1254/jphs.13145fp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The forced swimming test (FST) in mice is widely used to predict the antidepressant activity of a drug, but information describing the immobility of female mice is limited. We investigated whether a prior swimming experience affects the immobility duration in a second FST in female mice and whether the test-retest paradigm is a valid screening tool for antidepressants. Female ICR mice were exposed to the FST using two experimental paradigms: a single FST and a double FST in which mice had experienced FST once 24 h prior to the second trail. The initial FST experience reliably prolonged immobility duration in the second FST. The antidepressants imipramine and paroxetine significantly reduced immobility duration in the single FST, but not in the double FST. Scopolamine and the sigma-1 (σ1) antagonist NE-100 administered before the second trial significantly prevented the prolongation of immobility. Neither a 5-HT1A nor a 5-HT2A receptor agonist affected immobility duration. We suggest that the test-retest paradigm in female mice is not adequate for predicting antidepressant-like activity of a drug; the prolongation of immobility in the double FST is modulated through acetylcholine and σ1 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Su
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
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21
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Borges K. Slc10A4 - what do we know about the function of this "secret ligand carrier" protein? Exp Neurol 2013; 248:258-61. [PMID: 23810836 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Revised: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
This commentary discusses the possible functions of a relatively newly described solute carrier protein, Slc10a4, in regards to a recent article by Zelano et al. (2013) published in the January issue of Experimental Neurology, 239, 73-81. Slc10a4 belongs to the sodium-bile acid cotransporter family (Slc10), but does not show plasma membrane transport activity of bile acids and related molecules. It is co-localized with synaptic vesicle transporters for acetylcholine and dopamine. In Slc10a4 lacking mice, Zelano et al. found increased excitability in hippocampal slices and in vivo responses to pilocarpine, but not kainate. These findings are critically examined here. This author speculates on the possible function of Slc10a4, but remains partial about "specific effects of Slc10a4 in cholinergic systems". It is hoped that approaches targeting human SLC10A4 can be discovered for potential clinical use in neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and addiction. Conversely, some side effects are expected due to peripheral Slc10a4 localization in sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, as well as mast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Borges
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Skerman Building 65, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia.
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22
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23
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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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van Waarde A, Ramakrishnan NK, Rybczynska AA, Elsinga PH, Ishiwata K, Nijholt IM, Luiten PGM, Dierckx RA. The cholinergic system, sigma-1 receptors and cognition. Behav Brain Res 2011; 221:543-54. [PMID: 20060423 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2009] [Accepted: 12/26/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This article provides an overview of present knowledge regarding the relationship between the cholinergic system and sigma-1 receptors, and discusses potential applications of sigma-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of memory deficits and cognitive disorders. Sigma-1 receptors, initially considered as a subtype of the opioid family, are unique ligand-regulated molecular chaperones in the endoplasmatic reticulum playing a modulatory role in intracellular calcium signaling and in the activity of several neurotransmitter systems, particularly the cholinergic and glutamatergic pathways. Several central nervous system (CNS) drugs show high to moderate affinities for sigma-1 receptors, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil), antipsychotics (haloperidol, rimcazole), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluvoxamine, sertraline) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (clorgyline). These compounds can influence cognitive functions both via their primary targets and by activating sigma-1 receptors in the CNS. Sigma-1 agonists show powerful anti-amnesic and neuroprotective effects in a large variety of animal models of cognitive dysfunction involving, among others (i) pharmacologic target blockade (with muscarinic or NMDA receptor antagonists or p-chloroamphetamine); (ii) selective lesioning of cholinergic neurons; (iii) CNS administration of β-amyloid peptides; (iv) aging-induced memory loss, both in normal and senescent-accelerated rodents; (v) neurodegeneration induced by toxic compounds (CO, trimethyltin, cocaine), and (vi) prenatal restraint stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aren van Waarde
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Xu Y, Tanaka M, Chen L, Sokabe M. DHEAS induces short-term potentiation via the activation of a metabotropic glutamate receptor in the rat hippocampus. Hippocampus 2011; 22:707-22. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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26
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Bazin MA, El Kihel L, Boulouard M, Bouët V, Rault S. The effects of DHEA, 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane-6,17-dione, and 7-amino-DHEA analogues on short term and long term memory in the mouse. Steroids 2009; 74:931-7. [PMID: 19577585 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2009.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2009] [Revised: 06/24/2009] [Accepted: 06/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurosteroids have been reported to modulate memory processes in rodents. Three analogues of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), two of them previously described (7beta-aminoDHEA and 7beta-amino-17-ethylenedioxy-DHEA), and a new one (3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane-6,17-dione) were synthesized, and their effects were evaluated on memory. This study examined their effects on long term and short term memory in male (6 weeks old) NMRI mice in comparison with the reference drug. Long term memory was assessed using the passive avoidance task and short term memory (spatial working memory) using the spontaneous alternation task in a Y maze. Moreover, the effects of DHEA and its analogues on spontaneous locomotion were measured. In all tests, DHEA and analogues were injected at three equimolar doses (0.300-1.350-6.075 microM/kg). DHEA and its three analogues administered immediately post-training at the highest doses (6.075 microM/kg, s.c.) improved retention in passive avoidance test. Without effect per se in the spatial working memory task, the four compounds failed to reverse scopolamine (1mg/kg, i.p.)-induced deficit in spontaneous alternation. These data suggested an action of DHEA and analogues in consolidation of long term memory particularly when emotional components are implied. Moreover, data indicated that pharmacological modulation of DHEA as performed in this study provides derivatives giving the same mnemonic profile than reference molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Bazin
- Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Médicament de Normandie, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Boulevard Becquerel, 14032 Caen cedex, France
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Do Rego JL, Seong JY, Burel D, Leprince J, Luu-The V, Tsutsui K, Tonon MC, Pelletier G, Vaudry H. Neurosteroid biosynthesis: enzymatic pathways and neuroendocrine regulation by neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Front Neuroendocrinol 2009; 30:259-301. [PMID: 19505496 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 282] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2009] [Revised: 05/12/2009] [Accepted: 05/21/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuroactive steroids synthesized in neuronal tissue, referred to as neurosteroids, are implicated in proliferation, differentiation, activity and survival of nerve cells. Neurosteroids are also involved in the control of a number of behavioral, neuroendocrine and metabolic processes such as regulation of food intake, locomotor activity, sexual activity, aggressiveness, anxiety, depression, body temperature and blood pressure. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the existence, neuroanatomical distribution and biological activity of the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of neurosteroids in the brain of vertebrates, and we review the neuronal mechanisms that control the activity of these enzymes. The observation that the activity of key steroidogenic enzymes is finely tuned by various neurotransmitters and neuropeptides strongly suggests that some of the central effects of these neuromodulators may be mediated via the regulation of neurosteroid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Luc Do Rego
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 413, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
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Maninger N, Wolkowitz OM, Reus VI, Epel ES, Mellon SH. Neurobiological and neuropsychiatric effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). Front Neuroendocrinol 2009; 30:65-91. [PMID: 19063914 PMCID: PMC2725024 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2008.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 524] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2008] [Revised: 11/10/2008] [Accepted: 11/11/2008] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
DHEA and DHEAS are steroids synthesized in human adrenals, but their function is unclear. In addition to adrenal synthesis, evidence also indicates that DHEA and DHEAS are synthesized in the brain, further suggesting a role of these hormones in brain function and development. Despite intensifying research into the biology of DHEA and DHEAS, many questions concerning their mechanisms of action and their potential involvement in neuropsychiatric illnesses remain unanswered. We review and distill the preclinical and clinical data on DHEA and DHEAS, focusing on (i) biological actions and putative mechanisms of action, (ii) differences in endogenous circulating concentrations in normal subjects and patients with neuropsychiatric diseases, and (iii) the therapeutic potential of DHEA in treating these conditions. Biological actions of DHEA and DHEAS include neuroprotection, neurite growth, and antagonistic effects on oxidants and glucocorticoids. Accumulating data suggest abnormal DHEA and/or DHEAS concentrations in several neuropsychiatric conditions. The evidence that DHEA and DHEAS may be fruitful targets for pharmacotherapy in some conditions is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Maninger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143, USA
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Neuroactive steroid pregnenolone sulphate inhibits long-term potentiation via activation of alpha2-adrenoreceptors at excitatory synapses in rat medial prefrontal cortex. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2008; 11:611-24. [PMID: 18184443 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145707008334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnenolone sulphate (PREGS) is one of the most important neuroactive steroids. Previous study showed that PREGS enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP) via activation of post-synaptic NMDA receptors at excitatory synapses in the hippocampus. The present paper studied the effect of PREGS on LTP at excitatory synapses in the pyramidal cells of layers V-VI of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using whole-cell patch-clamp in slices and made a comparison with that in the hippocampus. We also studied the mechanism of the effect of PREGS in the mPFC. We found that PREGS inhibited induction of LTP in the mPFC and had no influence on NMDA currents, which was different from its effect in the hippocampus. Moreover, the effect of PREGS on LTP in the mPFC was cancelled by alpha2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, alpha2A-adrenoreceptor antagonist, Gi protein inhibitor, adenylate cyclase inhibitor and protein kinase A inhibitor. These results suggest that PREGS inhibits LTP via activation of the alpha2-adrenoreceptor-Gi protein-adenylate cyclase-protein kinase A signalling pathway in the mPFC.
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Sabeti J, Gruol DL. Emergence of NMDAR-independent long-term potentiation at hippocampal CA1 synapses following early adolescent exposure to chronic intermittent ethanol: role for sigma-receptors. Hippocampus 2008; 18:148-68. [PMID: 17960647 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent humans who abuse alcohol are more vulnerable than adults to the development of memory impairments. Memory impairments often involve modifications in the ability of hippocampal neurons to establish long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory neurotransmission; however, few studies have examined how chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence affects LTP mechanisms in hippocampus. We investigated changes in LTP mechanisms in hippocamal slices from rats exposed to intoxicating concentrations of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapors in their period of early-adolescent (i.e., prepubescent) or late-adolescent (i.e., postpubescent) development. LTP was evaluated at excitatory CA1 synapses in hippocampal slices at 24 h after the cessation of air (control) or CIE vapor treatments. CA1 synapses in control slices showed steady LTP following induction by high-frequency stimulation, which was fully dependent on NMDAR function. By contrast, slices from early-adolescent CIE exposed animals showed a compound form of LTP consisting of an NMDAR-dependent component and a slow-developing component independent of NMDARs. These components summated to yield LTP of robust magnitude above LTP levels in age-matched control slices. Bath-application of the sigma-receptor antagonist BD1047 and the neuroactive steroid pregnenolone sulfate, but not acute ethanol application, blocked NMDAR-independent LTP, while leaving NMDAR-dependent LTP intact. Analysis of presynaptic function during NMDAR-independent LTP induction demonstrated increased presynaptic function via a sigma-receptor-dependent mechanism in slices from early-adolescent CIE-exposed animals. By contrast, CIE exposure after puberty onset in late-adolescent animals produced decrements in LTP levels. The identification of a role for sigma-receptors and neuroactive steroids in the development of NMDAR-independent LTP suggests an important pathway by which hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and perhaps memory, may be uniquely altered by chronic ethanol exposure during the prepubescent phase of adolescent development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilla Sabeti
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences (MIND), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
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Cheng ZX, Lan DM, Wu PY, Zhu YH, Dong Y, Ma L, Zheng P. Neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate inhibits persistent sodium currents in rat medial prefrontal cortex via activation of sigma-1 receptors. Exp Neurol 2008; 210:128-36. [PMID: 18035354 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2007] [Revised: 10/05/2007] [Accepted: 10/12/2007] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate is one of the most important neurosteroids. In the present paper, we studied the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on persistent sodium currents and its mechanism and functional consequence with whole-cell patch clamp recording method combined with a pharmacological approach in the rat medial prefrontal cortex slices. The results showed that dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate inhibited the amplitude of persistent sodium currents and the inhibitory effect was significant at 0.1 microM, reached maximum at 1 microM and decreased with the increase in the concentrations of above 1 microM. The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on persistent sodium currents was canceled by the Gi protein inhibitor and the protein kinase C inhibitor, but not by the protein kinase A inhibitor. The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on persistent sodium currents was also canceled by the sigma-1 receptor blockers and the sigma-1 receptor agonist could mimic the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate had no significant influence on neuronal excitability but could significantly inhibit chemical inhibition of mitochondria-evoked increase in persistent sodium currents. These results suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate inhibits persistent sodium currents via the activation of sigma-1 receptors-Gi protein-protein kinase C-coupled signaling pathway, and the main functional consequence of this effect of DHEAS is presumably to protect neurons under ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Xiang Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Institutes of Brain Science of Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China
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Sujkovic E, Mileusnic R, Fry JP, Rose SPR. Temporal effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on memory formation in day-old chicks. Neuroscience 2007; 148:375-84. [PMID: 17640817 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2007] [Revised: 05/10/2007] [Accepted: 06/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) has been shown to enhance memory retention in different animal models and in various learning paradigms. In the present study, we investigated the effect of peripherally administered DHEAS on the acquisition, consolidation and retention of memory using a weak version of the one-trial passive avoidance task in day-old chicks. Intraperitoneally administered DHEAS (20 mg/kg) either 30 min before or 30 min and 4.5 h after training on the weakly aversive stimulus, enhanced recall at 24 h following training, suggesting a potentiation of not only the acquisition but also the early and late phases of memory consolidation. In contrast, when DHEAS was administered at 30 min prior to the 24 h retention test there was no memory enhancement, indicating a lack of effect on memory retrieval. Memory recall was unaltered when DHEAS was administered at 30 min before training in a control group trained on a strongly aversive stimulus, confirming memory-specific effects. Interestingly, the memory enhancement appeared to be sex-specific as male chicks showed higher recall than females. These findings provide further evidence that DHEAS enhances memory and may be involved in the temporal cascade of long-term memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sujkovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
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Gibbs TT, Russek SJ, Farb DH. Sulfated steroids as endogenous neuromodulators. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2006; 84:555-67. [PMID: 17023038 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2006] [Revised: 07/12/2006] [Accepted: 07/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system function is critically dependent upon an exquisitely tuned balance between excitatory synaptic transmission, mediated primarily by glutamate, and inhibitory synaptic transmission, mediated primarily by GABA. Modulation of either excitation or inhibition would be expected to result in altered functionality of finely tuned synaptic pathways and global neural systems, leading to altered nervous system function. Administration of positive or negative modulators of ligand-gated ion channels has been used extensively and successfully in CNS therapeutics, particularly for the induction of sedation and treatment of anxiety, seizures, insomnia, and pain. Excessive activation of excitatory glutamate receptors, such as in cerebral ischemia, can result in neuronal damage via excitotoxic mechanisms. The discovery that neuroactive steroids exert rapid, direct effects upon the function of both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors has raised the possibility that endogenous neurosteroids may play a regulatory role in synaptic transmission by modulating the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. The sites to which neuroactive steroids bind may also serve as targets for the discovery of therapeutic neuromodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terrell T Gibbs
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States
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Li Z, Zhou R, Cui S, Xie G, Cai W, Sokabe M, Chen L. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate prevents ischemia-induced impairment of long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal CA1 by up-regulating tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA receptor. Neuropharmacology 2006; 51:958-66. [PMID: 16895729 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2006.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2006] [Revised: 06/07/2006] [Accepted: 06/08/2006] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We have reported that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) reduces the threshold for long-term potentiation (LTP) in Shaffer collateral-CA1 synapses through the amplification of Src-dependent NMDA receptor signaling. The present study is a follow-up of the above reports, aiming at evaluating the effects of DHEAS on the impaired LTP in reversible forebrain ischemic rats. Transient (20 min) incomplete forebrain ischemia led to an impaired LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region without damages to the basal synaptic transmission between the Shaffer collaterals and pyramidal neurons. Repetitive administrations of DHEAS (20 mg/kg for 3 days) from the first 3 h of reperfusion, but not acute DHEAS application (50 microM), prevent the impairment of LTP produced by ischemia. Co-administration of the specific sigma(1) receptor antagonist NE100 with DHEAS completely prevented the protective effect of DHEAS. In contrast, progesterone (PRGO) not only had no protective effect against the ischemic LTP impairment, but also attenuated the protective effect of DHEAS on the impaired LTP. Tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunit 2B (NR2B) significantly decreased after ischemia, whereas that of NR1 had no obvious change. Furthermore, the repetitive administration of DHEAS improved the reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B. These findings suggest that the repetitive activation of sigma(1) receptor induced by DHEAS might prevent the ischemic LTP impairment through regulating the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Li
- Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Hanzhong Road 140, Jiangsu, China
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35
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Dubrovsky B. Neurosteroids, neuroactive steroids, and symptoms of affective disorders. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2006; 84:644-55. [PMID: 16962651 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2006] [Revised: 06/25/2006] [Accepted: 06/28/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurosteroids (NS) are steroids synthesized by the brain. Neuroactive steroids (NAS) refers to steroids that, independent of their origin, are capable of modifying neural activities. NAS bind and modulate different types of membrane receptors. The gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and sigma receptor complexes have been the most extensively studied. Oxidized ring A reduced pregnanes, tetrahydroprogesterone (THP), and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) bind to the progesterone intracellular receptor (PR), and in this way can also regulate gene expression. Animal experimentation showed that salient symptoms of depression, viz., anxiety, sleep disturbances, and memory and sexual dysfunctions, are modulated by NAS. In turn, psychotropic drugs modulate NS and NAS levels. NS levels as well as NAS plasma concentrations change in patients with depression syndromes, the levels return to normal baseline with recovery, but normalization is not necessary for successful therapy. Results from current studies on the evolution of nervous systems, including evolutionary developmental biology as well as anatomical and physiological findings, almost preclude a categorical classification of the psychiatric ailments the human brain succumbs to. The persistence in maintaining such essentialist classifications may help to explain why up to now the search for biological markers in psychiatry has been an unrewarding effort. It is proposed that it would be more fruitful to focus on relationships between NAS and symptoms of psychiatric disorders, rather than with typologically defined disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Dubrovsky
- McGill University, 3445 Drummond Street, #701, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1X9.
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Romieu P, Lucas M, Maurice T. Sigma1 receptor ligands and related neuroactive steroids interfere with the cocaine-induced state of memory. Neuropsychopharmacology 2006; 31:1431-43. [PMID: 16132061 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The present series of experiments examined the involvement of the sigma(1) receptor and related neuroactive steroids in the memory state induced by a very low dose of cocaine. Using a modified passive avoidance procedure in mice, we examined whether cocaine induces state-dependent (StD) learning. Animals trained and tested with saline or the same dose of cocaine (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg) showed correct retention, measured using two independent parameters: the retention latency and a ratio between the retention latency and the last training latency. Animals trained with cocaine (0.1 mg/kg) and tested with saline or cocaine (0.03, 0.3 mg/kg), or trained with saline and tested with cocaine, showed altered retention parameters, demonstrating that StD occurred. Therefore, cocaine administered before training produced a chemical state used as an endogenous cue to insure optimal retention. Since sigma(1) receptor activation is an important event during the acquisition of cocaine reward, we tested several sigma(1) ligands and related neurosteroids. The sigma(1) agonist igmesine or antagonist BD1047 failed to produce StD, but modified the cocaine state. Among neuroactive steroids, pregnanolone and allopregnanolone, positive modulators of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor, produced StD. However, steroids also acting as sigma(1) agonists, dehydroepiandrosterone (3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androsten-17-one (DHEA)), pregnenolone, or antagonist, progesterone, failed to induce StD but modified the cocaine state. Furthermore, optimal retention was observed with mice trained with (igmesine or DHEA)+cocaine and tested with a higher dose of cocaine, or with mice trained with (BD1047 or progesterone)+cocaine and tested with vehicle. This study demonstrated that: (i) low doses of cocaine induce a chemical state/memory trace sustaining StD; (ii) modulation of the sigma(1) receptor activation, although insufficient to provoke StD, modulates the cocaine state; (iii) neuroactive steroids exert a unique role in state-dependent vs state-independent learning, via GABA(A) or sigma(1) receptor modulation, and are able to affect the cocaine-induced mnesic trace at low brain concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Romieu
- Behavioral Neuropharmacology Group, INSERM U. 336, Institut de Biologie, Montpellier, France
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George O, Vallée M, Le Moal M, Mayo W. Neurosteroids and cholinergic systems: implications for sleep and cognitive processes and potential role of age-related changes. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2006; 186:402-13. [PMID: 16416333 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-005-0254-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2005] [Accepted: 10/07/2005] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The neurosteroids pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and allopregnanolone (3alpha,5alpha THPROG) have been implicated as powerful modulators of memory processes and sleep states in young and aged subjects with memory impairment. As these processes depend on the integrity of cholinergic systems, a specific effect of neurosteroids on these systems may account for their effects on sleep and memory. OBJECTIVE To review the evidence for a specific and differential effect of neurosteroids on cholinergic systems. METHODS We carried out keyword searches in "Medline" to identify articles concerning (1) the effects of neurosteroids on cholinergic systems, sleep and memory processes, and (2) changes in neurosteroid concentrations during aging. Few results are available for humans. Most data concerned rodents. RESULTS Peripheral and central administrations of PREGS, DHEAS, and 3alpha,5alpha THPROG modulate the basal forebrain and brainstem projection cholinergic neurons but not striatal cholinergic interneurons. Local administration of neurosteroids to the basal forebrain and brainstem cholinergic neurons alters sleep and memory in rodents. There are a few conflicting reports concerning the effects of aging on neurosteroid concentrations in normal and pathological conditions. CONCLUSIONS The specific modulation of basal forebrain and brainstem cholinergic systems by neurosteroids may account for the effects of these compounds on sleep and memory processes. To improve our understanding of the role of neurosteroids in cholinergic systems during normal and pathological aging, we need to determine whether there is specific regionalization of neurosteroids, and we need to investigate the relationship between neurosteroid concentrations in cholinergic nuclei and age-related sleep and memory impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier George
- INSERM, U588, Institut François Magendie, Université de Bordeaux II, F-33077, Bordeaux, France.
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38
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Gelinas DS, McLaurin J. PPAR-alpha expression inversely correlates with inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in aging rats. Neurochem Res 2006; 30:1369-75. [PMID: 16341933 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-005-8341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) was given the name "fountain of youth" in reference to its beneficial properties in memory, cognition and aging. Cultured cell studies showed that DHEAS may mediate its action by counteracting aging-associated inflammation via PPAR-alpha activation. In the present study, we demonstrated an age-dependent increase in IL-1beta and TNF-alpha expression in the brain and the spleen of aging rats, while PPAR-alpha expression was decreased in the spleen of 18 month-old rats. Oral treatment with DHEAS increased PPAR-alpha mRNA in 3 month-old rats and decreased PPAR-alpha protein expression in 18 month-old rats in the spleen. In contrast, DHEAS did not alter cytokine expression in spleen and brain of the three age groups. These findings underline a differential role for DHEAS in PPAR-alpha expression that is age-dependent, and also, that beneficial effects of DHEAS on cognitive function are unlikely mediated by a decrease in cytokine expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Gelinas
- Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Tanz Neuroscience Building, 6 Queen's Park Crescent West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3H2, Canada.
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Steffensen SC, Jones MD, Hales K, Allison DW. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and estrone sulfate reduce GABA-recurrent inhibition in the hippocampus via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Hippocampus 2006; 16:1080-90. [PMID: 17024678 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Several recent studies have established a role for estrogens in ameliorating specific neurodegenerative disorders, mainly those associated with the cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain and their targets in the cortex and hippocampus. We have previously demonstrated that endogenous and exogenous application of the neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) markedly reduces GABA-mediated recurrent inhibition and synchronizes hippocampal unit activity to theta rhythm (Steffensen (1995) Hippocampus 5:320-328). In this study, we evaluated the role of muscarinic receptors in mediating the effects of DHEAS and estrone sulfate (ES), the principal circulating estrogen in humans, on short-latency-evoked potential responses, paired-pulse inhibition (PPI), paired-pulse facilitation, and GABA interneuron activity in the dentate gyrus and CA1 subfields of the rat hippocampus. In situ microelectrophoretic application of the muscarinic M2 subtype cholinergic receptor agonist cis-dioxolane, DHEAS, and ES markedly reduced PPI in the dentate and CA1 that was blocked by the M2 receptor antagonist gallamine. Similar to DHEAS, microelectrophoretic administration of ES increased population spike amplitudes, without increasing excitatory transmission, but this effect was not blocked by gallamine. Microelectrophoretic application of cis-dioxolane and ES markedly increased the firing rate of dentate hilar interneurons and CA1 oriens/alveus interneurons and enhanced their synchrony to hippocampal theta rhythm. These findings suggest that select GABA-modulating neurosteroids and neuroactive estrogen sulfates alter septohippocampal cholinergic modulation of hippocampal GABAergic interneurons mediating recurrent, but not feedforward, inhibition of hippocampal principal cell activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Steffensen
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 846022, USA.
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Monnet FP, Maurice T. The Sigma1 Protein as a Target for the Non-genomic Effects of Neuro(active)steroids: Molecular, Physiological, and Behavioral Aspects. J Pharmacol Sci 2006; 100:93-118. [PMID: 16474209 DOI: 10.1254/jphs.cr0050032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroids synthesized in the periphery or de novo in the brain, so called 'neurosteroids', exert both genomic and nongenomic actions on neurotransmission systems. Through rapid modulatory effects on neurotransmitter receptors, they influence inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission. In particular, progesterone derivatives like 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone) are positive allosteric modulators of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor and therefore act as inhibitory steroids, while pregnenolone sulphate (PREGS) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) are negative modulators of the GABA(A) receptor and positive modulators of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, therefore acting as excitatory neurosteroids. Some steroids also interact with atypical proteins, the sigma (sigma) receptors. Recent studies particularly demonstrated that the sigma1 receptor contributes effectively to their pharmacological actions. The present article will review the data demonstrating that the sigma1 receptor binds neurosteroids in physiological conditions. The physiological relevance of this interaction will be analyzed and the impact on physiopathological outcomes in memory and drug addiction will be illustrated. We will particularly highlight, first, the importance of the sigma1-receptor activation by PREGS and DHEAS which may contribute to their modulatory effect on calcium homeostasis and, second, the importance of the steroid tonus in the pharmacological development of selective sigma1 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- François P Monnet
- Unité 705 de l'Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7157 du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Paris V et VII, Hôpital Lariboisière-Fernand Widal, Paris, France
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Chen L, Dai XN, Sokabe M. Chronic administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) primes for facilitated induction of long-term potentiation via sigma 1 (sigma1) receptor: optical imaging study in rat hippocampal slices. Neuropharmacology 2005; 50:380-92. [PMID: 16364377 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2005] [Revised: 09/20/2005] [Accepted: 10/18/2005] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), one of the most abundant neurosteroids synthesized de novo in the nervous system, has well characterized effects on memory and cognitive performances. However, little is known about the underlying synaptic mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic administration of DHEAS (20 mg/kg for 7 days) on the plasticity of Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses by applying an optical recording technique on the hippocampal slices stained with voltage-sensitive dyes. We report here that chronically administered DHEAS significantly facilitated the induction of frequency-dependent LTP, termed DHEAS-facilitated LTP. While tetanus of at least 50 pulses (at 100 Hz) were required to induce LTP in control rats, only 20 pulses were needed in DHEAS-treated animals. In contrast DHEA, the non-sulfated form of DHEAS, had no facilitating effect on the induction of LTP. We found that chronically administered DHEAS did not alter the presynaptic glutamate release in response to both single pulse and tetanic stimulation, suggesting that certain alterations happened in postsynaptic neurons. Co-administration of the sigma 1 (sigma1) receptor antagonists, haloperidol or NE100, with DHEAS completely inhibited the DHEAS-facilitated LTP. However, acute administration of sigma1 receptor antagonists to the slices did not affect the induction of DHEAS-facilitated LTP, suggesting that sigma1 receptor is a key target of chronic actions of DHEAS but is not involved in the induction of DHEAS-facilitated LTP. Our findings provide evidence that chronically administered DHEAS plays a priming role in inducing a facilitated synaptic plasticity probably via a chronic activation of sigma1 receptor in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong-road, Nanjing 210029, China
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Schiess AR, Partridge LD. Pregnenolone sulfate acts through a G-protein-coupled sigma1-like receptor to enhance short term facilitation in adult hippocampal neurons. Eur J Pharmacol 2005; 518:22-9. [PMID: 15996654 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2005] [Accepted: 06/07/2005] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Neurosteroids have been linked to cognitive performance, and their levels are altered in neuropsychiatric diseases. These neuromodulators are produced in the brain where they have important effects on synaptic transmission at postsynaptic gamma-amino-butyric acid receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and at presynaptic sites. We previously found, in cultured neonatal hippocampal neurons, that the neurosteroid, pregnenolone sulfate, acts presynaptically through a sigma1-like receptor to modulate basal glutamate release. The present study was designed to test whether pregnenolone sulfate acts through a similar presynaptic receptor in adult hippocampal neurons. The sigma1-receptor agonist, 2-(4-morpholino)ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate, enhanced paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) by a similar extent to that which we had previously reported for pregnenolone sulfate. The sigma1-receptor antagonists, 1-(4-Iodophenyl)-3-(2-adamantyl)guanidine and 1[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-4-methylpiperazine, blocked the pregnenolone sulfate enhancement of PPF as did pretreatment of slices in pertussis toxin. We conclude that pregnenolone sulfate acts through a Gi/o-coupled sigma1-like receptor to enhance short-term presynaptic facilitation onto adult hippocampal CA1 neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian R Schiess
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States of America
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Dubrovsky BO. Steroids, neuroactive steroids and neurosteroids in psychopathology. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2005; 29:169-92. [PMID: 15694225 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2004.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/19/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The term "neurosteroid" (NS) was introduced by Baulieu in 1981 to name a steroid hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), that was found at high levels in the brain long after gonadectomy and adrenalectomy, and shown later to be synthetized by the brain. Later, androstenedione, pregnenolone and their sulfates and lipid derivatives as well as tetrahydrometabolites of progesterone (P) and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) were identified as neurosteroids. The term "neuroactive steroid" (NAS) refers to steroids which, independent of their origin, are capable of modifying neural activities. NASs bind and modulate different types of membrane receptors. The GABA and sigma receptor complexes have been the most extensively studied, while glycine-activated chloride channels, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, voltage-activated calcium channels, although less explored, are also modulated by NASs. Within the glutamate receptor family, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors and kainate receptors have also been demonstrated to be a target for steroid modulation. Besides their membrane effects, once inside the neuron oxidation of Ring A reduced pregnanes, THP and THDOC, bind to the progesterone intracellular receptor and regulate gene expression through this path. The involvement of NASs on depression syndromes, anxiety disorders, stress responses to different stress stimuli, memory processes and related phenomena such as long-term potentiation are reviewed and critically evaluated. The importance of context for the interpretation of behavioral effects of hormones as well as for hormonal levels in body fluids is emphasized. Some suggestions for further research are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo O Dubrovsky
- McGill University, 3445 Drummond Street, #701, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1X9, Canada.
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Fedotova J, Sapronov N. Behavioral effects of dehydroepiandrosterone in adult male rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2004; 28:1023-7. [PMID: 15380863 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2004.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
It is well-documented that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) exhibits various behavioral effects in rodents, at least one of which is modulation of learning/memory processes in several test paradigms. However, little is known about the influence of DHEA on cognitive performance in the adult rodents. This work was designed to determine whether chronic DHEA administration during 10 days in the high (0.7 mg/kg, s.c.) or low (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) doses has any effect on learning/memory abilities and behavior in the adult male rats (5- to 6-month old). Effect of DHEA was estimated in active and passive avoidance tasks, behavior was registered in the elevated "plus" maze and the "open field" test. DHEA in the high dose significantly (p<0.05) increased time spent and the number of enterings in the "open" arms of the elevated "plus" maze in intact male rats as compared with the control rats. DHEA in the low dose significantly (p<0.05) decreased horizontal and vertical locomotor activity and grooming behavior, whereas DHEA in the high dose did not significantly modify behavior in intact rats as compared with control group. Results of the ANOVA on passive avoidance performance revealed no statistically significant differences among the groups receiving DHEA in the high or low doses as compared to the control. However, DHEA in the low dose significantly (p<0.05) reduced the number of correct avoidance responses in intact rats as compared to the control rats, while in rats treated with the high dose DHEA, the active avoidance performance did not differ significantly from the control. Thus, chronic DHEA administration has a modulatory action on the learning and behavior of the adult male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Fedotova
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Research Institute for Experimental Medicine of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 12 Academician Pavlov Street Petersburg 197376, Russia.
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Hoffman SW, Virmani S, Simkins RM, Stein DG. The delayed administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate improves recovery of function after traumatic brain injury in rats. J Neurotrauma 2003; 20:859-70. [PMID: 14577864 DOI: 10.1089/089771503322385791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of the current study was to test the hypothesis that dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), a pro-excitatory neurosteroid, could facilitate recovery of function in male rats after delayed treatment following TBI. DHEAS has been found to play a major role in brain development and aging by influencing the migration of neurons, arborization of dendrites, and formation of new synapses. These characteristics make it suitable as a potential treatment to enhance neural repair in response to CNS injury. In our study, behavioral tests were conducted concurrently with DHEAS administration (0, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg) starting seven days post-injury (PI). These assays included 10 days of Morris Water Maze testing (MWM; 7d PI), 10 days of Greek-Cross (GC; 21d PI), Tactile Adhesive Removal task (TAR; PI days: 6, 13, 20, 27, 34), and spontaneous motor behavior testing (SMB; PI days: 2, 4, 6, 12, 19, 26, 33). Brain-injured rats showed an improvement in performance in all tasks after 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg DHEAS. The most effective dose of DHEAS in the MWM was 10 mg/kg, while in the GC it was 20 mg/kg, in TAR 5 mg/kg, and all doses, except for vehicle, were effective at reducing injury-induced SMB hyperactivity. In no task did DHEAS-treated animals perform worse than the injured controls. In addition, DHEAS had no significant effects on behavioral performance in the sham-operates. These results can be interpreted to demonstrate that after a 7-day delay, the chronic administration of DHEAS to injured rats significantly improves behavioral recovery on both sensorimotor and cognitive tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart W Hoffman
- Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, 1648 Pierce Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Mtchedlishvili Z, Kapur J. A presynaptic action of the neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate on GABAergic synaptic transmission. Mol Pharmacol 2003; 64:857-64. [PMID: 14500742 DOI: 10.1124/mol.64.4.857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The endogenous neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate (PS) is known to enhance memory and cognitive function at nanomolar concentrations. However, the effect of these low concentrations on synaptic transmission has not been previously studied. The effects of PS on GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents were studied in cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Concentrations of PS similar to those endogenous in the hippocampus (10-30 nM) reduced the frequency of both action potential-dependent (spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current) and -independent (miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current; mIPSC) inhibitory postsynaptic currents. This effect of PS was mimicked by the selective sigma1 receptor agonist [2S-(2alpha,6alpha,11R]-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-6,11-dimethyl-3-(2-propenyl)-2,6-methano-3-benzazocin-8-ol hydrochloride [(+)-SKF 10047] and blocked the specific sigma1 receptor antagonists 1-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-4-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (BD-1063) and haloperidol and by pertussis toxin. The GABAB antagonist baclofen and the metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (R,S)-a-cyclopropyl-4-phosphonophenylglycine had no effect on the PS-mediated inhibition of mIPSC frequency. The postsynaptic effects of PS occurred at micromolar concentrations but not at nanomolar concentrations. A comparison of the pre- and postsynaptic effects of PS demonstrated that it was 100-fold more potent in inhibiting presynaptic GABAergic synaptic mechanisms than GABAA receptors. These studies demonstrate that concentrations of PS, similar to those endogenous in the hippocampus, inhibit GABAergic synaptic transmission by a presynaptic effect. PS causes specific activation of G protein-coupled sigma1 receptors, resulting in modulation of both action potential-dependent and -independent IPSCs. These findings improve our understanding of the physiological function of PS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakaria Mtchedlishvili
- Department of Neurology, Box 800394, University of Virginia-HSC Charlottesville, VA 22908-0394, USA
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Schumacher M, Weill-Engerer S, Liere P, Robert F, Franklin RJM, Garcia-Segura LM, Lambert JJ, Mayo W, Melcangi RC, Parducz A, Suter U, Carelli C, Baulieu EE, Akwa Y. Steroid hormones and neurosteroids in normal and pathological aging of the nervous system. Prog Neurobiol 2003; 71:3-29. [PMID: 14611864 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2003.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Without medical progress, dementing diseases such as Alzheimer's disease will become one of the main causes of disability. Preventing or delaying them has thus become a real challenge for biomedical research. Steroids offer interesting therapeutical opportunities for promoting successful aging because of their pleiotropic effects in the nervous system: they regulate main neurotransmitter systems, promote the viability of neurons, play an important role in myelination and influence cognitive processes, in particular learning and memory. Preclinical research has provided evidence that the normally aging nervous system maintains some capacity for regeneration and that age-dependent changes in the nervous system and cognitive dysfunctions can be reversed to some extent by the administration of steroids. The aging nervous system also remains sensitive to the neuroprotective effects of steroids. In contrast to the large number of studies documenting beneficial effects of steroids on the nervous system in young and aged animals, the results from hormone replacement studies in the elderly are so far not conclusive. There is also little information concerning changes of steroid levels in the aging human brain. As steroids present in nervous tissues originate from the endocrine glands (steroid hormones) and from local synthesis (neurosteroids), changes in blood levels of steroids with age do not necessarily reflect changes in their brain levels. There is indeed strong evidence that neurosteroids are also synthesized in human brain and peripheral nerves. The development of a very sensitive and precise method for the analysis of steroids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) offers new possibilities for the study of neurosteroids. The concentrations of a range of neurosteroids have recently been measured in various brain regions of aged Alzheimer's disease patients and aged non-demented controls by GC/MS, providing reference values. In Alzheimer's patients, there was a general trend toward lower levels of neurosteroids in different brain regions, and neurosteroid levels were negatively correlated with two biochemical markers of Alzheimer's disease, the phosphorylated tau protein and the beta-amyloid peptides. The metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone has also been analyzed for the first time in the aging brain from Alzheimer patients and non-demented controls. The conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone to Delta5-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol and to 7alpha-OH-dehydroepiandrosterone occurred in frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum and striatum of both Alzheimer's patients and controls. The formation of these metabolites within distinct brain regions negatively correlated with the density of beta-amyloid deposits.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Schumacher
- Inserm U488, 80 rue du Général Leclerc, Kremlin-Bicêtre 94276, France.
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48
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Abstract
The sigma1 receptor is critically involved in the rewarding effect of cocaine, as measured using the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure in mice. Neuroactive steroids exert rapid neuromodulatory effects in the brain by interacting with GABA(A), NMDA, and sigma1 receptors. At the sigma1 receptor level, 3beta-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one [dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] and 3beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (pregnenolone) act as agonists, whereas 4-pregnene-3,20-dione (progesterone) is an efficient antagonist. The present study sought to investigate the action of neuroactive steroids in acquisition of cocaine-induced CPP in C57BL/6 mice. None of these steroids induced CPP alone. However, pretreatment with DHEA or pregnenolone (5-20 mg/kg, s.c.) during conditioning with cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the conditioned score. On the contrary, pretreatment with either progesterone (10 or 20 mg/kg, s.c.) or finasteride (25 mg/kg, twice a day), a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, blocked acquisition of cocaine (20 mg/kg)-induced CPP. A crossed pharmacology was observed between steroids and sigma1 ligands. The sigma1 antagonist N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-2-(dimethylamino)ethylamine blocked cocaine-induced CPP and its potentiation by DHEA or pregnenolone. Progesterone blocked cocaine-induced CPP and its potentiation by the sigma1 agonist igmesine. These results showed that neuroactive steroids play a role in cocaine-induced appetence, through their interaction with the sigma1 receptor. Therefore, neuroendocrine control of cocaine addiction may not involve solely glucocorticoids. The importance of neuroactive steroids as factors of individual vulnerability to drug addiction should, thus, be considered.
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Abstract
(1) Dimemorfan, an antitussive for more than 25 years, has previously been reported to be a relative high-affinity ligand at sigma-1 (sigma(1)) receptor with the K(i) value of 151 nM. (2) To test whether dimemorfan has anti-amnesic effects similar to a sigma(1) receptor agonist, this study examined its effects on scopolamine- and beta-amyloid peptide-(25-35)-induced amnesia in mice. (3) Dimemorfan (10-40 mg kg(-1), i.p.) administered 30 min before the training trial, immediately after the training trial, or 30 min before the retention test significantly improved scopolamine (1 mg kg(-1), i.p.)- or beta-amyloid peptide-(25-35) (3 nmol mouse(-1), i.c.v.)-induced amnesia in a step-through passive avoidance test. Dimemorfan (5-40 mg kg(-1), i.p.) pretreatment also attenuated scopolamine (8 mg kg(-1), i.p.)-induced amnesia in a water-maze test. And, these anti-amnesic effects of dimemorfan, like the putative sigma(1) receptor agonist (+)-N-allylnormetazocine ((+)-SKF-10047), were antagonized by a sigma receptor antagonist haloperidol (0.25 mg kg(-1), i.p.). (4) These results indicated that dimemorfan has anti-amnesic effects and acts like a sigma(1) receptor agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hung Wang
- Department & Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Wei Chien
- Department & Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Ching Chou
- Department of Pharmacy, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Fei Liao
- Department & Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Author for correspondence:
| | - Chieh-Fu Chen
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, No. 155-1, Sec. 2, Li-Nong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan
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50
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Racchi M, Balduzzi C, Corsini E. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and the aging brain: flipping a coin in the "fountain of youth". CNS DRUG REVIEWS 2003; 9:21-40. [PMID: 12595910 PMCID: PMC6741703 DOI: 10.1111/j.1527-3458.2003.tb00242.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The physiological role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphated ester DHEA(S) has been studied for nearly 2 decades and still eludes final clarification. The major interest in DHEA derives from its unique pattern of activity. Its levels exhibit a dramatic age-related decline that supports significant involvement of DHEA(S) in the aging process. Particularly relevant to the aging process is the functional decline that involves memory and cognitive abilities. DHEA is derived mainly from synthesis in the adrenal glands and gonads. It can also be detected in the brain where it is derived from a synthesis that is independent from peripheral steroid sources. For this reason DHEA and other steroid molecules have been named "neurosteroids." Pharmacological studies on animals provided evidence that neurosteroids could be involved in learning and memory processes because they can display memory-enhancing properties in aged rodents. However, human studies have reported contradictory results that so far do not directly support the use of DHEA in aging-related conditions. As such, it is important to remember that plasma levels of DHEA(S) may not reflect levels in the central nervous system (CNS), due to intrinsic ability of the brain to produce neurosteroids. Thus, the importance of neurosteroids in the memory process and in age-related cognitive impairment should not be dismissed. Furthermore, the fact that the compound is sold in most countries as a health food supplement is hampering the rigorous scientific evaluation of its potential. We will describe the effect of neurosteroids, in particular DHEA, on neurochemical mechanism involved in memory and learning. We will focus on a novel effect on a signal transduction mechanism involving a classical "cognitive kinase" such as protein kinase C. The final objective is to provide additional tools to understand the physiological role and therapeutic potentials of neurosteroids in normal and/or pathological aging, such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Racchi
- Department of Experimental and Applied Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Italy.
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