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Sadighi M, Mai L, Xu Y, Boillot M, Targa G, Mottarlini F, Brambilla P, Gass P, Caffino L, Fumagalli F, Homberg JR. Chronic exposure to imipramine induces a switch from depression-like to mania-like behavior in female serotonin transporter knockout rats: Role of BDNF signaling in the infralimbic cortex. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:128-142. [PMID: 38280571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is a highly burdensome psychiatric disorder characterized by alternating states of mania and depression. A major challenge in the clinic is the switch from depression to mania, which is often observed in female BD patients during antidepressant treatment such as imipramine. However, the underlying neural basis is unclear. METHODS To investigate the potential neuronal pathways, serotonin transporter knockout (SERT KO) rats, an experimental model of female BD patients, were subjected to a battery of behavioral tests under chronic treatment of the antidepressant imipramine. In addition, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its downstream signaling was examined in the prefrontal cortex. RESULTS Chronic exposure to imipramine reduced anxiety and sociability and problem-solving capacity, and increased thigmotaxis and day/night activity in all animals, but specifically in female SERT KO rats, compared to female wild-type (WT) rats. Further, we found an activation of BDNF-TrkB-Akt pathway signaling in the infralimbic, but not prelimbic, cortex after chronic imipramine treatment in SERT KO, but not WT, rats. LIMITATIONS Repeated testing behaviors could potentially affect the results. Additionally, the imipramine induced changes in behavior and in the BDNF system were measured in separate animals. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that female SERT KO rats, which mirror the female BD patients with the 5-HTTLPR s-allele, are at higher risk of a switch to mania-like behaviors under imipramine treatment. Activation of the BDNF-TrkB-Akt pathway in the infralimbic cortex might contribute to this phenotype, but causal evidence remains to be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Sadighi
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Lingling Mai
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Yifan Xu
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Morgane Boillot
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Giorgia Targa
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Peter Gass
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Miura I, Horikoshi S, Ichinose M, Suzuki Y, Watanabe K. Lurasidone for the Treatment of Schizophrenia: Design, Development, and Place in Therapy. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:3023-3031. [PMID: 37789971 PMCID: PMC10544203 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s366769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature on the drug design, development, and therapy of lurasidone for the treatment of schizophrenia. Lurasidone has antagonistic effects on the dopamine D2, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A, and 5-HT7 receptors and a partial agonistic effect on the 5-HT1A receptor with low affinities for muscarinic M1, histamine H1, and a1 adrenergic receptors. The receptor-binding profile of lurasidone is thought to be associated with fewer side effects such as anticholinergic effects, lipid abnormalities, hyperglycemia, and weight gain. Behavioral pharmacological studies have demonstrated that lurasidone exerts anxiolytic and antidepressive effects and improves cognitive function, which are associated with the modulation of 5-HT7 and 5-HT1A receptors. Literature search using PubMed was performed to find published studies of randomized controlled trials and recent meta-analyses regarding efficacy and safety, particularly metabolic side effects of lurasidone in schizophrenia. In short-term studies, the results of randomized placebo-controlled trials and meta-analyses have suggested that lurasidone was superior to placebo in improving total psychopathology, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathology in patients with acute schizophrenia. Regarding safety, lurasidone had minimal metabolic side effects, and was identified as one of the drugs with the most benign profiles for metabolic side effects. Long-term trials revealed that lurasidone had the preventive effects on relapse, with minimal effects on weight gain and other metabolic side effects. Furthermore, lurasidone improves cognitive and functional performance of patients with schizophrenia, especially in long-term treatment. Patients with schizophrenia require long-term treatment with antipsychotics for relapse prevention; thus, minimizing weight gain and other side effects is crucial. Lurasidone is suitable as one of the first-line antipsychotic drugs in the acute phase, and a switching strategy should be considered during the maintenance phase, to balance efficacy and adverse effects and achieve favorable outcomes in the long-term course of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itaru Miura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Sho Horikoshi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Horikoshi Psychosomatic Clinic, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Mizue Ichinose
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hoshigaoka Hospital, Koriyama, Japan
| | - Yuhei Suzuki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kenya Watanabe
- Department of Pharmacy, Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
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Brivio P, Gallo MT, Gruca P, Lason M, Litwa E, Fumagalli F, Papp M, Calabrese F. Chronic N-Acetyl-Cysteine Treatment Enhances the Expression of the Immediate Early Gene Nr4a1 in Response to an Acute Challenge in Male Rats: Comparison with the Antidepressant Venlafaxine. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087321. [PMID: 37108481 PMCID: PMC10139155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite several antidepressant treatments being available in clinics, they are not effective in all patients. In recent years, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been explored as adjunctive therapy for many psychiatric disorders, including depression, for its antioxidant properties. Given the promising efficacy of this compound for the treatment of such pathologies, it is fundamental to investigate, at the preclinical level, the ability of the drug to act in the modulation of neuroplastic mechanisms in basal conditions and during challenging events in order to highlight the potential features of the drug useful for clinical efficacy. To this aim, adult male Wistar rats were treated with the antidepressant venlafaxine (VLX) (10 mg/kg) or NAC (300 mg/kg) for 21 days and then subjected to 1 h of acute restraint stress (ARS). We found that NAC enhanced the expression of several immediate early genes, markers of neuronal plasticity in the ventral and dorsal hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and amygdala, and in particular it mediated the acute-stress-induced upregulation of Nr4a1 expression more than VLX. These data suggested the ability of NAC to induce coping strategies to face external challenges, highlighting its potential for the improvement of neuroplastic mechanisms for the promotion of resilience, in particular via the modulation of Nr4a1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Gallo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Piotr Gruca
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Lason
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewa Litwa
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mariusz Papp
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-343 Krakow, Poland
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
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de Bartolomeis A, De Simone G, Ciccarelli M, Castiello A, Mazza B, Vellucci L, Barone A. Antipsychotics-Induced Changes in Synaptic Architecture and Functional Connectivity: Translational Implications for Treatment Response and Resistance. Biomedicines 2022; 10:3183. [PMID: 36551939 PMCID: PMC9776416 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness characterized by alterations in processes that regulate both synaptic plasticity and functional connectivity between brain regions. Antipsychotics are the cornerstone of schizophrenia pharmacological treatment and, beyond occupying dopamine D2 receptors, can affect multiple molecular targets, pre- and postsynaptic sites, as well as intracellular effectors. Multiple lines of evidence point to the involvement of antipsychotics in sculpting synaptic architecture and remodeling the neuronal functional unit. Furthermore, there is an increasing awareness that antipsychotics with different receptor profiles could yield different interregional patterns of co-activation. In the present systematic review, we explored the fundamental changes that occur under antipsychotics' administration, the molecular underpinning, and the consequences in both acute and chronic paradigms. In addition, we investigated the relationship between synaptic plasticity and functional connectivity and systematized evidence on different topographical patterns of activation induced by typical and atypical antipsychotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Section of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment-Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Medical School of Naples “Federico II”, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Diao X, Luo D, Wang D, Lai J, Li Q, Zhang P, Huang H, Wu L, Lu S, Hu S. Lurasidone versus Quetiapine for Cognitive Impairments in Young Patients with Bipolar Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:1403. [PMID: 36422533 PMCID: PMC9698487 DOI: 10.3390/ph15111403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical efficacy of lurasidone and quetiapine, two commonly prescribed atypical antipsychotics for bipolar depression, has been inadequately studied in young patients. In this randomized and controlled study, we aimed to compare the effects of these two drugs on cognitive function, emotional status, and metabolic profiles in children and adolescents with bipolar depression. We recruited young participants (aged 10-17 years old) with a DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar disorder during a depressive episode, who were then randomly assigned to two groups and treated with flexible doses of lurasidone (60 to 120 mg/day) or quetiapine (300 to 600 mg/day) for consecutive 8 weeks, respectively. All the participants were clinically evaluated on cognitive function using the THINC-it instrument at baseline and week 8, and emotional status was assessed at baseline and the end of week 2, 4, and 8. Additionally, the changes in weight and serum metabolic profiles (triglyceride, cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose) during the trial were also analyzed. In results, a total of 71 patients were randomly assigned to the lurasidone group (n = 35) or the quetiapine group (n = 36), of which 31 patients completed the whole treatment course. After an 8-week follow-up, participants in the lurasidone group showed better performance in the Symbol Check Reaction and Accuracy Tests, when compared to those in the quetiapine group. No inter-group difference was observed in the depression scores, response rate, or remission rate throughout the trial. In addition, there was no significant difference in serum metabolic profiles between the lurasidone group and the quetiapine group, including triglyceride level, cholesterol level, and fasting blood glucose level. However, the quetiapine group presented a more apparent change in body weight than the lurasidone group. In conclusion, the present study provided preliminary evidence that quetiapine and lurasidone had an equivalent anti-depressive effect, and lurasidone appeared to be superior to quetiapine in improving the cognitive function of young patients with bipolar depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyuan Diao
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Department of Psychosomatic, The Third People′s Hospital of Jiashan County, Jiaxing 314100, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jianbo Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Qunxiao Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Hangzhou Fuyang Third People’s Hospital, Hangzhou 311402, China
| | - Peifen Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Huimin Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Lingling Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Shaojia Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Shaohua Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Brain Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Zhejiang Engineering Center for Mathematical Mental Health, Hangzhou 310003, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
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6
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de Oliveira RP, de Andrade JS, Spina M, Chamon JV, Silva PHD, Werder AK, Ortolani D, Thomaz LDSC, Romariz S, Ribeiro DA, Longo BM, Spadari RC, Viana MDB, Melo-Thomas L, Céspedes IC, da Silva RCB. Clozapine prevented social interaction deficits and reduced c-Fos immunoreactivity expression in several brain areas of rats exposed to acute restraint stress. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262728. [PMID: 35239670 PMCID: PMC8893644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we evaluate the effect of acute restraint stress (15 min) of male Wistar rats on social interaction measurements and c-Fos immunoreactivity (c-Fos-ir) expression, a marker of neuronal activity, in areas involved with the modulation of acute physical restraint in rats, i.e., the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), median raphe nucleus (MnR), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), cingulate prefrontal cortex (cPFC), nucleus accumbens (NaC), hippocampus (CA3), lateral septum (LS) and medial amygdala (MeA). We considered the hypothesis that restraint stress exposure could promote social withdrawal induced by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, and increase c-Fos expression in these limbic forebrain areas investigated. In addition, we investigated whether pretreatment with the atypical antipsychotic clozapine (5 mg/kg; I.P.) could attenuate or block the effects of restraint on these responses. We found that restraint stress induced social withdrawal, and increased c-Fos-ir in these areas, demonstrating that a single 15 min session of physical restraint of rats effectively activated the HPA axis, representing an effective tool for the investigation of neuronal activity in brain regions sensitive to stress. Conversely, pretreatment with clozapine, prevented social withdrawal and reduced c-Fos expression. We suggest that treatment with clozapine exerted a preventive effect in the social interaction deficit, at least in part, by blocking the effect of restraint stress in brain regions that are known to regulate the HPA-axis, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, septum and amygdala. Further experiments will be done to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José Simões de Andrade
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | - Marianna Spina
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | - João Vítor Chamon
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | | | - Ana Keyla Werder
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | - Daniela Ortolani
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | | | - Simone Romariz
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/SP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Araki Ribeiro
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | - Beatriz Monteiro Longo
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/SP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Regina Célia Spadari
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | - Milena de Barros Viana
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
| | - Liana Melo-Thomas
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-Universityof Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Marburg Center for Mind, Brain, and Behavior (MCMBB), Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Isabel Cristina Céspedes
- Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Regina Cláudia Barbosa da Silva
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Present and future antipsychotic drugs: a systematic review of the putative mechanisms of action for efficacy and a critical appraisal under a translational perspective. Pharmacol Res 2022; 176:106078. [PMID: 35026403 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Antipsychotics represent the mainstay of schizophrenia pharmacological therapy, and their role has been expanded in the last years to mood disorders treatment. Although introduced in 1952, many years of research were required before an accurate picture of how antipsychotics work began to emerge. Despite the well-recognized characterization of antipsychotics in typical and atypical based on their liability to induce motor adverse events, their main action at dopamine D2R to elicit the "anti-psychotic" effect, as well as the multimodal action at other classes of receptors, their effects on intracellular mechanisms starting with receptor occupancy is still not completely understood. Significant lines of evidence converge on the impact of these compounds on multiple molecular signaling pathways implicated in the regulation of early genes and growth factors, dendritic spine shape, brain inflammation, and immune response, tuning overall the function and architecture of the synapse. Here we present, based on PRISMA approach, a comprehensive and systematic review of the above mechanisms under a translational perspective to disentangle those intracellular actions and signaling that may underline clinically relevant effects and represent potential targets for further innovative strategies in antipsychotic therapy.
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Wang CS, Kavalali ET, Monteggia LM. BDNF signaling in context: From synaptic regulation to psychiatric disorders. Cell 2022; 185:62-76. [PMID: 34963057 PMCID: PMC8741740 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuropeptide that plays numerous important roles in synaptic development and plasticity. While its importance in fundamental physiology is well established, studies of BDNF often produce conflicting and unclear results, and the scope of existing research makes the prospect of setting future directions daunting. In this review, we examine the importance of spatial and temporal factors on BDNF activity, particularly in processes such as synaptogenesis, Hebbian plasticity, homeostatic plasticity, and the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Understanding the fundamental physiology of when, where, and how BDNF acts and new approaches to control BDNF signaling in time and space can contribute to improved therapeutics and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille S Wang
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-2050, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240-7933, USA
| | - Ege T Kavalali
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-2050, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240-7933, USA
| | - Lisa M Monteggia
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-2050, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240-7933, USA.
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Spero V, Paladini MS, Brivio P, Riva MA, Calabrese F, Molteni R. Altered responsiveness of the antioxidant system in chronically stressed animals: modulation by chronic lurasidone treatment. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2547-2557. [PMID: 35459959 PMCID: PMC9294027 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06140-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Although the occurrence of stressful events is very common during life, their impact may be different depending on the experience severity and duration. Specifically, acute challenges may trigger adaptive responses and even improve the individual's performance. However, such a physiological positive coping can only take place if the underlying molecular mechanisms are properly functioning. Indeed, if these systems are compromised by genetic factors or previous adverse conditions, the response set in motion by an acute challenge may be maladaptive and even cause the insurgence or the relapse of stress-related psychiatric disorders. OBJECTIVES On these bases, we evaluated in the rat brain the role of the antioxidant component of the redox machinery on the acute stress responsiveness and its modulation by potential detrimental or beneficial events. METHODS The expression of several antioxidant enzymes was assessed in different brain areas of adult male rats exposed to acute stress 3 weeks after a chronic immobilization paradigm with or without a concomitant treatment with the antipsychotic lurasidone. RESULTS The acute challenge was able to trigger a marked antioxidant response that, despite the washout period, was impaired by the previous adverse experience and restored by lurasidone in an anatomical-specific manner. CONCLUSIONS We found that a working antioxidant machinery takes part in acute stress response and may be differentially affected by other experiences. Given the essential role of stress responsiveness in almost every life process, the identification of the underlying mechanisms and their potential pharmacological modulation add further translational value to our data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Spero
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Serena Paladini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy ,Present Address: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy
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Caffino L, Mottarlini F, Zita G, Gawliński D, Gawlińska K, Wydra K, Przegaliński E, Fumagalli F. The effects of cocaine exposure in adolescence: Behavioural effects and neuroplastic mechanisms in experimental models. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:4233-4253. [PMID: 33963539 PMCID: PMC9545182 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug addiction is a devastating disorder with a huge economic and social burden for modern society. Although an individual may slip into drug abuse throughout his/her life, adolescents are at higher risk, but, so far, only a few studies have attempted to elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular bases of such vulnerability. Indeed, preclinical evidence indicates that psychostimulants and adolescence interact and contribute to promoting a dysfunctional brain. In this review, we have focused our attention primarily on changes in neuroplasticity brought about by cocaine, taking into account that there is much less evidence from exposure to cocaine in adolescence, compared with that from adults. This review clearly shows that exposure to cocaine during adolescence, acute or chronic, as well as contingent or non‐contingent, confers a vulnerable endophenotype, primarily, by causing changes in neuroplasticity. Given the close relationship between drug abuse and psychiatric disorders, we also discuss the translational implications providing an interpretative framework for clinical studies involving addictive as well as affective or psychotic behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Caffino
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Mottarlini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Zita
- Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Dawid Gawliński
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Kinga Gawlińska
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Karolina Wydra
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Edmund Przegaliński
- Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Sanson A, Riva MA. Anti-Stress Properties of Atypical Antipsychotics. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E322. [PMID: 33092112 PMCID: PMC7589119 DOI: 10.3390/ph13100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress exposure represents a major environmental risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, as it plays a pivotal role in the etiology as well as in the manifestation of disease symptomatology. It may be inferred that pharmacological treatments must be able to modulate the behavioral, functional, and molecular alterations produced by stress exposure to achieve significant clinical outcomes. This review aims at examining existing clinical and preclinical evidence that supports the ability of atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPDs) to modulate stress-related alterations. Indeed, while the pharmacodynamic differences between AAPDs have been extensively characterized, less is known on their ability to regulate downstream mechanisms that are critical for functional recovery and patient stabilization. We will discuss stress-related mechanisms, spanning from neuroendocrine function to inflammation and neuronal plasticity, which are relevant for the manifestation of schizophrenic symptomatology, and we will discuss if and how AAPDs may interfere with such mechanisms. Considering the impact of stress in everyday life, we believe that a better understanding of the potential effects of AAPDs on stress-related mechanisms may provide novel and important insights for improving therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting coping mechanisms and enhancing the quality of life of patients affected by psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco A. Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Giuseppe Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy;
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12
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Brivio P, Sbrini G, Corsini G, Paladini MS, Racagni G, Molteni R, Calabrese F. Chronic Restraint Stress Inhibits the Response to a Second Hit in Adult Male Rats: A Role for BDNF Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176261. [PMID: 32872446 PMCID: PMC7503736 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a recurrent disorder, with about 50% of patients experiencing relapse. Exposure to stressful events may have an adverse impact on the long-term course of the disorder and may alter the response to a subsequent stressor. Indeed, not all the systems impaired by stress may normalize during symptoms remission, facilitating the relapse to the pathology. Hence, we investigated the long-lasting effects of chronic restraint stress (CRS) and its influence on the modifications induced by the exposure to a second hit on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We exposed adult male Sprague Dawley rats to 4 weeks of CRS, we left them undisturbed for the subsequent 3 weeks, and then we exposed animals to one hour of acute restraint stress (ARS). We found that CRS influenced the release of corticosterone induced by ARS and inhibited the ability of ARS to activate mature BDNF, its receptor Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TRKB), and their associated intracellular cascades: the TRKB-PI3K-AKT), the MEK-MAPK/ERK, and the Phospholipase C γ (PLCγ) pathways, positively modulated by ARS in non-stressed animals. These results suggest that CRS induces protracted and detrimental consequences that interfere with the ability of PFC to cope with a challenging situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università deglI Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.B.); (G.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Giulia Sbrini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università deglI Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.B.); (G.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Giulia Corsini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università deglI Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.B.); (G.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Maria Serena Paladini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.P.); (R.M.)
| | - Giorgio Racagni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università deglI Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.B.); (G.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.P.); (R.M.)
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università deglI Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.B.); (G.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Marchisella F, Paladini MS, Guidi A, Begni V, Brivio P, Spero V, Calabrese F, Molteni R, Riva MA. Chronic treatment with the antipsychotic drug blonanserin modulates the responsiveness to acute stress with anatomical selectivity. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1783-1793. [PMID: 32296859 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05498-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia typically receive life-long treatments with antipsychotic drugs (APDs). However, the impact of chronic APDs treatment on neuroplastic mechanisms in the brain remains largely elusive. OBJECTIVE Here, we focused on blonanserin, a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) that acts as an antagonist at dopamine D2, D3, and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, and represents an important tool for the treatment of schizophrenia. METHODS We used rats to investigate the ability of chronic treatment blonanserin to modulate the activity of brain structures relevant for schizophrenia, under baseline conditions or in response to an acute forced swim session (FSS). We measured the expression of different immediate early genes (IEGs), including c-Fos, Arc/Arg 3.1, Zif268 and Npas4. RESULTS Blonanserin per se produced limited changes in the expression of these genes under basal conditions, while, as expected, FSS produced a significant elevation of IEGs transcription in different brain regions. The response of blonanserin-treated rats to FSS show anatomical and gene-selective differences. Indeed, the upregulation of IEGs was greatly reduced in the striatum, a brain structure enriched in dopamine receptors, whereas the upregulation of some genes (Zif268, Npas4) was largely preserved in other regions, such as the prefrontal cortex and the ventral hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings show that chronic exposure to blonanserin modulates selective IEGs with a specific anatomical profile. Moreover, the differential activation of specific brain regions under challenging conditions may contribute to specific clinical features of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Marchisella
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Serena Paladini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Guidi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Begni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Vittoria Spero
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy.
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
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14
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Brivio P, Sbrini G, Riva MA, Calabrese F. Acute Stress Induces Cognitive Improvement in the Novel Object Recognition Task by Transiently Modulating Bdnf in the Prefrontal Cortex of Male Rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 40:1037-1047. [PMID: 31960229 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00793-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Stress response involves several mechanisms and mediators that allow individuals to adapt to a changing environment. The effects of stress may be adaptive or maladaptive, based on the timing and intensity of exposure as well as on the individual vulnerability. In particular, exposure to mild and brief stressors provides beneficial advantages in a short-term period, by activating protective functions to react with the external demands. On these bases, the purpose of our study was to establish the time-dependent effects of acute stress exposure on neuroplastic mechanisms in adult male rats. Moreover, we aim at establishing the consequences of the acute challenge on memory processes by testing rats in the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) test. We found that acute restraint stress up-regulated total Bdnf expression 1 h post stress specifically in rat prefrontal cortex, an effect that was sustained by the increase of Bdnf isoform IV as well as by the pool of Bdnf transcripts with long 3'UTR. Furthermore, in the same brain region, the acute stress modulated in a time-specific manner the expression of different activity-dependent genes, namely Arc, Gadd45β and Nr4a1. At behavioral level, the challenge was able to improve the performance in the NOR test specifically 1 h post stress, an effect that positively correlated with the expression of the neurotrophic factors. Taken together, our results suggest that a single session of acute stress enhances memory and learning functions with a specific temporal profile, by improving neuroplastic mechanisms within the prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Brivio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Sbrini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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15
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Kato T. Current understanding of bipolar disorder: Toward integration of biological basis and treatment strategies. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:526-540. [PMID: 31021488 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Biological studies of bipolar disorder initially focused on the mechanism of action for antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, and the roles of monoamines (e.g., serotonin, dopamine) have been extensively studied. Thereafter, based on the mechanism of action of lithium, intracellular signal transduction systems, including inositol metabolism and intracellular calcium signaling, have drawn attention. Involvement of intracellular calcium signaling has been supported by genetics and cellular studies. Elucidation of the neural circuits affected by calcium signaling abnormalities is critical, and our previous study suggested a role of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus. The genetic vulnerability of mitochondria causes calcium dysregulation and results in the hyperexcitability of serotonergic neurons, which are suggested to be susceptible to oxidative stress. Efficacy of anticonvulsants, animal studies of candidate genes, and studies using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons have suggested a relation between bipolar disorder and the hyperexcitability of neurons. Recent genetic findings suggest the roles of polyunsaturated acids. At the systems level, social rhythm therapy targets circadian rhythm abnormalities, and cognitive behavioral therapy may target emotion/cognition (E/C) imbalance. In the future, pharmacological and psychosocial treatments may be combined and optimized based on the biological basis of each patient, which will realize individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
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16
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Chen AT, Nasrallah HA. Neuroprotective effects of the second generation antipsychotics. Schizophr Res 2019; 208:1-7. [PMID: 30982644 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contrast to over 30 studies reporting neurotoxicity associated with the first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), several published studies have reported multiple neuroprotective effects associated with the second generation antipsychotics (SGAs). This prompted us to conduct a review of the reported neuroprotective mechanisms of the SGA class of antipsychotics compared to the FGAs. METHODS A PubMed search was conducted using the keywords antipsychotic, neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, neurotoxicity, toxicity, brain volume, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, myelin, and oligodendrocyte. No restrictions were placed on the date of the articles or language. Studies with a clearly described methodology were included. RESULTS Animal, cell culture, and human clinical studies were identified. Twenty-four reports met the criteria for the search. All studies included at least one SGA (aripiprazole, clozapine, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, perospirone, quetiapine, risperidone, and/or ziprasidone). A few also included FGAs as a comparator (predominantly haloperidol). All studies demonstrated at least one neuroprotective mechanism of one or more SGAs, while some studies also showed that FGAs ranged from having no neuroprotective effects to actually exerting neurotoxic effects leading to neuronal death. CONCLUSIONS A review of the literature suggests that in addition to their antipsychotic efficacy and low motoric side effects, SGAs exert measurable neuroprotective effects mediated via multiple molecular mechanisms and often in a dose-dependent manner. The neuroprotective effects of SGAs range from preventative to restorative and may play a salutary role in ameliorating the neurodegenerative effects of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2010 Zonal Ave 1P10, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Henry A Nasrallah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1438 South Grand Blvd., Suite 105, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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17
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Jena M, Ranjan R, Mishra BR, Mishra A, Nath S, Sahu P, Meher BR, Srinivasan A, Maiti R. Effect of lurasidone vs olanzapine on neurotrophic biomarkers in unmedicated schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 112:1-6. [PMID: 30782512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurotrophic factors like Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), play a role in neuroplasticity and neurogenesis contributing to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was to investigate and compare the effect of olanzapine and lurasidone on the change in serum neurotrophins in patients with schizophrenia. The present study was a randomized, open-label, active-controlled, parallel design clinical trial. After randomization baseline evaluations of serum BDNF, NGF, NT3, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scoring, Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) scoring of 101 unmedicated schizophrenia patients were done. Patients were reassessed after 6 weeks of monotherapy with olanzapine or lurasidone. Serum BDNF increased after treatment with both the drug groups but rise with olanzapine was found to be significantly higher (916.22; 95 %CI: 866.07 to 966.37; p < 0.001) in comparison to lurasidone. Increase in levels NGF and NT3 was also observed but there was no significant difference between the groups (NGF: 2.32; CI: 3.54 to -3.53; p = 0.57 and NT3: 0.99; CI: 2.11 to 0.14; p = 0.086). The difference in improvement in PANSS and SOFASS with both the drugs was not statistically significant. Both the drugs alleviate the symptoms of schizophrenia but olanzapine was better tolerated. Our findings suggest that increase in serum BDNF with olanzapine monotherapy is significantly higher than that with lurasidone but there is no significant difference in change in serum NGF and NT3. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: (NCT03304457).
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Affiliation(s)
- Monalisa Jena
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India.
| | - Rajeev Ranjan
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, India.
| | - Biswa Ranjan Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India.
| | | | - Santanu Nath
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India.
| | - Pallabi Sahu
- Department of Psychiatry, KIMS, Bhubaneswar, India.
| | | | - Anand Srinivasan
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India.
| | - Rituparna Maiti
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India.
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18
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Brivio P, Corsini G, Riva MA, Calabrese F. Chronic vortioxetine treatment improves the responsiveness to an acute stress acting through the ventral hippocampus in a glucocorticoid-dependent way. Pharmacol Res 2019; 142:14-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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19
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Rodrigues-Amorim D, Rivera-Baltanás T, Bessa J, Sousa N, Vallejo-Curto MDC, Rodríguez-Jamardo C, de Las Heras ME, Díaz R, Agís-Balboa RC, Olivares JM, Spuch C. The neurobiological hypothesis of neurotrophins in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia: A meta-analysis. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 106:43-53. [PMID: 30269004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is associated with patterns of aberrant neurobiological circuitry. The disease complexity is mirrored by multiple biological interactions known to contribute to the disease pathology. One potential contributor is the family of neurotrophins which are proteins involved in multiple functional processes in the nervous system, with crucial roles in neurodevelopment, synaptogenesis and neuroplasticity. With these roles in mind, abnormal neurotrophin profiles have been hypothesized to contribute to the pathology of schizophrenia. METHODS We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis to scrutinize the neurobiological hypothesis of neurotrophins in schizophrenia, examining the correlation between peripheral levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin 4/5 (NT-4/5) associated with schizophrenia. RESULTS Fifty-two studies were reviewed and twenty-two studies were included in this meta-analysis. Using a random effects model, we confirmed that decreased levels of neurotrophins (BDNF, NGF and NT-4/5) were associated with schizophrenia (Hedges's g = -0.846; SE = 0.058; 95% confidence interval: -0.960 to -0.733; Z-value = -14.632; p-value = 0.000). Subgroup analysis indicated that neurotrophin levels are significantly decreased in both medicated and drug-näive patients. Meta-regression of continuous variables such as mean age, duration of illness and PANSS total score did not show significant effects (p > 0.05) in relation to neurotrophins levels. DISCUSSION We confirm that decreased peripheral neurotrophin levels are significantly associated with schizophrenia, thereby confirming the neurobiological hypothesis of neurotrophins in schizophrenia. Low levels of neurotrophins in peripheral blood of patients with schizophrenia may explain, in part, the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rodrigues-Amorim
- Neuroscience Translational Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - Tania Rivera-Baltanás
- Neuroscience Translational Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - João Bessa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Cynthia Rodríguez-Jamardo
- Neuroscience Translational Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - María Elena de Las Heras
- Neuroscience Translational Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - Roberto Díaz
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, IISPV, URV, CIBERSAM, Reus, Spain; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
| | | | - J M Olivares
- Neuroscience Translational Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM, Spain.
| | - Carlos Spuch
- Neuroscience Translational Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, SERGAS-UVIGO, CIBERSAM, Spain.
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20
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Aringhieri S, Carli M, Kolachalam S, Verdesca V, Cini E, Rossi M, McCormick PJ, Corsini GU, Maggio R, Scarselli M. Molecular targets of atypical antipsychotics: From mechanism of action to clinical differences. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 192:20-41. [PMID: 29953902 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) since the discovery of its prototypical drug clozapine has been a revolutionary pharmacological step for treating psychotic patients as these allow a significant recovery not only in terms of hospitalization and reduction in symptoms severity, but also in terms of safety, socialization and better rehabilitation in the society. Regarding the mechanism of action, AAPs are weak D2 receptor antagonists and they act beyond D2 antagonism, involving other receptor targets which regulate dopamine and other neurotransmitters. Consequently, AAPs present a significant reduction of deleterious side effects like parkinsonism, hyperprolactinemia, apathy and anhedonia, which are all linked to the strong blockade of D2 receptors. This review revisits previous and current findings within the class of AAPs and highlights the differences in terms of receptor properties and clinical activities among them. Furthermore, we propose a continuum spectrum of "atypia" that begins with risperidone (the least atypical) to clozapine (the most atypical), while all the other AAPs fall within the extremes of this spectrum. Clozapine is still considered the gold standard in refractory schizophrenia and in psychoses present in Parkinson's disease, though it has been associated with adverse effects like agranulocytosis (0.7%) and weight gain, pushing the scientific community to find new drugs as effective as clozapine, but devoid of its side effects. To achieve this, it is therefore imperative to characterize and compare in depth the very complex molecular profile of AAPs. We also introduce relatively new concepts like biased agonism, receptor dimerization and neurogenesis to identify better the old and new hallmarks of "atypia". Finally, a detailed confrontation of clinical differences among the AAPs is presented, especially in relation to their molecular targets, and new means like therapeutic drug monitoring are also proposed to improve the effectiveness of AAPs in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Aringhieri
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Carli
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Shivakumar Kolachalam
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Verdesca
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Enrico Cini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Rossi
- Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Peter J McCormick
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Giovanni U Corsini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Maggio
- Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences Department, University of L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Scarselli
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
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21
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de Bartolomeis A, Buonaguro EF, Latte G, Rossi R, Marmo F, Iasevoli F, Tomasetti C. Immediate-Early Genes Modulation by Antipsychotics: Translational Implications for a Putative Gateway to Drug-Induced Long-Term Brain Changes. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:240. [PMID: 29321734 PMCID: PMC5732183 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing amount of research aims at recognizing the molecular mechanisms involved in long-lasting brain architectural changes induced by antipsychotic treatments. Although both structural and functional modifications have been identified following acute antipsychotic administration in humans, currently there is scarce knowledge on the enduring consequences of these acute changes. New insights in immediate-early genes (IEGs) modulation following acute or chronic antipsychotic administration may help to fill the gap between primary molecular response and putative long-term changes. Moreover, a critical appraisal of the spatial and temporal patterns of IEGs expression may shed light on the functional "signature" of antipsychotics, such as the propensity to induce motor side effects, the potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying the differences between antipsychotics beyond D2 dopamine receptor affinity, as well as the relevant effects of brain region-specificity in their mechanisms of action. The interest for brain IEGs modulation after antipsychotic treatments has been revitalized by breakthrough findings such as the role of early genes in schizophrenia pathophysiology, the involvement of IEGs in epigenetic mechanisms relevant for cognition, and in neuronal mapping by means of IEGs expression profiling. Here we critically review the evidence on the differential modulation of IEGs by antipsychotics, highlighting the association between IEGs expression and neuroplasticity changes in brain regions impacted by antipsychotics, trying to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects of this class of drugs on psychotic, cognitive and behavioral symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Elisabetta F Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Latte
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Rossi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Marmo
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Carmine Tomasetti
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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Yatham LN, Mackala S, Basivireddy J, Ahn S, Walji N, Hu C, Lam RW, Torres IJ. Lurasidone versus treatment as usual for cognitive impairment in euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder: a randomised, open-label, pilot study. Lancet Psychiatry 2017; 4:208-217. [PMID: 28185899 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(17)30046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is present in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and correlates with impairments in everyday functioning. We aimed to examine the efficacy of lurasidone adjunctive therapy compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in improving cognition. METHODS For this randomised, open-label, pilot study, we recruited patients aged 19-65 years with euthymic bipolar I disorder from the Mood Disorder Centre in UBC Hospital (Vancouver, Canada). We included patients who were taking lithium, or valproate, or an atypical antipsychotic, or a combination of these for mood stabilisation and who showed reduced cognitive functioning (SD≤ -0·25 relative to demographics-corrected norms) on either the Trail Making Test-B or the California Verbal Learning Test-II. Patients were randomly assigned using a randomised block design with a block size of four to TAU or lurasidone adjunctive therapy (20-80 mg/day) for 6 weeks. A research coordinator masked to group allocation administered the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Battery for Assessment of Neurocognition (ISBD-BANC) at baseline and at endpoint. The primary outcome was change in global cognition score, which consisted of the mean demographics-corrected t-score value of the several ISBD-BANC measures, analysed in all patients who completed both tests. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02147379. FINDINGS Between July 2, 2014, and Oct 19, 2015, 34 patients were randomly allocated to lurasidone adjunctive therapy (17 patients) or TAU (17 patients). Two patients from each group did not complete the study. The mean lurasidone dose was 48·24 (SD 15·90) mg/day. Lurasidone adjunctive therapy was more effective than TAU in improving the primary efficacy measure of ISBD-BANC global cognition score (mean difference 2·92 [95% CI 0·27-5·57]; time × treatment interaction F=5·09; p=0·032). The between-group effect size (0·82) on baseline versus study-end difference scores in the ISBD global cognition score was of moderate to large magnitude. The magnitude of benefit with lurasidone adjunctive therapy in improving global cognition (effect size 0·46) was greater compared with the improvement observed in the TAU group (0·04). Adverse events were reported by nine (60%) patients in the luradisone group and two (13%) in the TAU group. INTERPRETATION Our results provide some preliminary evidence for the efficacy of lurasidone in improving cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder. The strengths of this study were the characterisation of the sample and use of tests sensitive to cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder. Its limitations were the sample size and inability to completely control for other medication use. Larger double-blind trials are warranted to investigate this further. FUNDING Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi N Yatham
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Sylvia Mackala
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jayasree Basivireddy
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sharon Ahn
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nazlin Walji
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chen Hu
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Raymond W Lam
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ivan J Torres
- Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Luoni A, Richetto J, Longo L, Riva MA. Chronic lurasidone treatment normalizes GABAergic marker alterations in the dorsal hippocampus of mice exposed to prenatal immune activation. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 27:170-179. [PMID: 27939135 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal infection represents a risk factor for the development of psychopathologic conditions later in life. Clinical evidence is also supported by animal models in which the vulnerability to develop a schizophrenic-like phenotype likely originates from inflammatory processes as early as in the womb. Prenatal immune challenge, for example, induces a variety of long-term behavioral alterations in mice, such as deficits in recognition and spatial working memory, perseverative behaviors and social impairments, which are relevant to different symptom clusters of schizophrenia. Here, we investigated the modulation of GABAergic markers in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus of adult mice exposed to late prenatal immune challenge with the viral mimetic Poly(I:C) (polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic-acid) at gestational day 17, and we evaluated the ability of chronic treatment with the multi-receptor antipsychotic lurasidone to modulate the alterations produced by maternal infection. Poly(I:C) mice show a significant reduction of key GABAergic markers, such as GAD67 and parvalbumin, specifically in the dorsal hippocampus, which were normalized by chronic lurasidone administration. Moreover, chronic drug administration increases the expression of the pool of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) transcripts with the long 3'-UTR as well as the levels of mature BDNF protein in the synaptosomal compartment, selectively in dorsal hippocampus. All in all, our findings demonstrate that lurasidone is effective in ameliorating molecular abnormalities observed in Poly(I:C) mice, providing further support to the neuroplastic properties of this multi-receptor antipsychotic drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Luoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - J Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Longo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - M A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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24
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Cellular and molecular mechanisms of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in physiological and pathological conditions. Clin Sci (Lond) 2016; 131:123-138. [DOI: 10.1042/cs20160009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that plays a key role in the central nervous system, promoting synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis and neuroprotection. The BDNF gene structure is very complex and consists of multiple 5′-non-coding exons, which give rise to differently spliced transcripts, and one coding exon at the 3′-end. These multiple transcripts, together with the complex transcriptional regulatory machinery, lead to a complex and fine regulation of BDNF expression that can be tissue and stimulus specific. BDNF effects are mainly mediated by the high-affinity, tropomyosin-related, kinase B receptor and involve the activation of several downstream cascades, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase, phospholipase C-γ and phosphoinositide-3-kinase pathways. BDNF exerts a wide range of effects on neuronal function, including the modulation of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. Importantly, alterations in BDNF expression and function are involved in different brain disorders and represent a major downstream mechanism for stress response, which has important implications in psychiatric diseases, such as major depressive disorders and schizophrenia. In the present review, we have summarized the main features of BDNF in relation to neuronal plasticity, stress response and pathological conditions, and discussed the role of BDNF as a possible target for pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments in the context of psychiatric illnesses.
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25
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Luoni A, Berry A, Raggi C, Bellisario V, Cirulli F, Riva MA. Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Stress on Bdnf Expression in Response to an Acute Challenge in Rats: a Role for Gadd45β. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 53:7037-7047. [PMID: 26676568 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9569-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to early adversities represents a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders. We have previously shown that exposure to prenatal stress (PNS) in rats alters the developmental expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) with a specific temporal profile. However, exposure to early-life stress is known to alter the ability to cope with challenging events later in life, which may contribute to the enhanced vulnerability to stress-related disorders. Since Bdnf is also an important player for activity-dependent plasticity, we investigated whether the exposure to PNS in rats could alter Bdnf responsiveness to an acute challenge at adulthood. We found that exposure to PNS produces significant changes in Bdnf responsiveness with brain region- and gender-specific selectivity. Indeed, exposure to an acute stress upregulates Bdnf expression in the prefrontal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, of control animals. Moreover, such modulatory activity is selectively impaired in PNS female rats, an effect that was associated with changes in the modulation of the DNA demethylase Gadd45β. Our results suggest that exposure to PNS may reprogram gene transcription through epigenetic mechanisms reducing the ability to cope under adverse conditions, a trait that is disrupted in psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Luoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - A Berry
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - C Raggi
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - V Bellisario
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F Cirulli
- Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Yoshimura Y, Ishikawa C, Kasegai H, Masuda T, Yoshikawa M, Shiga T. Roles of 5-HT 1A receptor in the expression of AMPA receptor and BDNF in developing mouse cortical neurons. Neurosci Res 2016; 115:13-20. [PMID: 27702575 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2016.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The possible interactions between serotonergic and glutamatergic systems during neural development and under the pathogenesis of depression remain unclear. We now investigated roles of 5-HT1A receptor in the mRNA expression of AMPA receptor subunits (GluR1 and GluR2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using primary culture of cerebral cortex of mouse embryos. Neurons at embryonic day 18 were cultured for 3days or 14days and then treated with 5-HT1A receptor agonist (8-OH-DPAT) for 3h or 24h. In neurons cultured for 3 days, 8-OH-DPAT treatment for both 3h and 24h increased the mRNA levels of BDNF and GluR1, but not GluR2. In neurons cultured for 14 days, however, 8-OH-DPAT had no effects on these mRNA levels. Next, we examined in vivo roles of 5-HT1A receptor by administration of 8-OH-DPAT to newborn mice. Twenty-four hours after the oral administration of 8-OH-DPAT, the mRNA expression of BDNF was decreased in the frontal cortex, but had no effects on the mRNA expression of GluR1 and GluR2. Taken together, the present study suggests that 5-HT1A receptor activation modulates mRNA expression of AMPA receptor subunit and BDNF in cortical neurons, and the effects are different between in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Yoshimura
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Chihiro Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Haruki Kasegai
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Masuda
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan; Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Masaaki Yoshikawa
- Division of Anatomical Science, Department of Functional Morphology, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi-Kamicho, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Takashi Shiga
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan; Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan.
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27
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Orrù A, Caffino L, Moro F, Cassina C, Giannotti G, Di Clemente A, Fumagalli F, Cervo L. Contingent and non-contingent recreational-like exposure to ethanol alters BDNF expression and signaling in the cortico-accumbal network differently. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:3149-60. [PMID: 27370019 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4358-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Although brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is part of a homeostatic pathway involved in the development of alcohol dependence, it is not clear whether this is also true after recreational ethanol consumption. OBJECTIVES We examined BDNF expression and signaling in the cortico-striatal network immediately and 24 h after either a single intravenous (i.v.) ethanol operant self-administration session or the last of 14 sessions. METHODS To compare contingent and non-contingent ethanol exposure, we incorporated the "yoked control-operant paradigm" in which rats actively taking ethanol (S-Et) were paired with two yoked controls receiving passive infusions of ethanol (Y-Et) or saline. RESULTS A single ethanol exposure transiently reduced BDNF mRNA levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of Y-Et. Immediately after the last of 14 sessions, mRNA and mature BDNF protein levels (mBDNF) were reduced in the mPFC in both S-Et and Y-Et while mBDNF expression was raised in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), suggesting enhanced anterograde transport from the mPFC. Conversely, 24 h later mBDNF expression and signaling were raised in the mPFC and NAc of S-Et rats but reduced in the NAc of Y-Et rats, with concomitant reduction of downstream signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that recreational-like i.v. doses of ethanol promote early changes in neurotrophin expression, depending on the length and modality of administration, the brain region investigated, and the presence of the drug. A rapid intervention targeting the BDNF system might be useful to prevent escalation to alcohol abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Orrù
- Experimental Psychopharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy.
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (C.N.R.), Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico della Sardegna, Polaris - Edificio 5 - Località, Piscinamanna, 09010, Pula, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Lucia Caffino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Moro
- Experimental Psychopharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Cassina
- Experimental Psychopharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Di Clemente
- Experimental Psychopharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Cervo
- Experimental Psychopharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy.
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Jaeschke RR, Sowa-Kućma M, Pańczyszyn-Trzewik P, Misztak P, Styczeń K, Datka W. Lurasidone: The 2016 update on the pharmacology, efficacy and safety profile. Pharmacol Rep 2016; 68:748-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Functional Role of BDNF Production from Unique Promoters in Aggression and Serotonin Signaling. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:1943-55. [PMID: 26585288 PMCID: PMC4908631 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates diverse biological functions ranging from neuronal survival and differentiation during development to synaptic plasticity and cognitive behavior in the adult. BDNF disruption in both rodents and humans is associated with neurobehavioral alterations and psychiatric disorders. A unique feature of Bdnf transcription is regulation by nine individual promoters, which drive expression of variants that encode an identical protein. It is hypothesized that this unique genomic structure may provide flexibility that allows different factors to regulate BDNF signaling in distinct cell types and circuits. This has led to the suggestion that isoforms may regulate specific BDNF-dependent functions; however, little scientific support for this idea exists. We generated four novel mutant mouse lines in which BDNF production from one of the four major promoters (I, II, IV, or VI) is selectively disrupted (Bdnf-e1, -e2, -e4, and -e6 mice) and used a comprehensive comparator approach to determine whether different Bdnf transcripts are associated with specific BDNF-dependent molecular, cellular, and behavioral phenotypes. Bdnf-e1 and -e2 mutant males displayed heightened aggression accompanied by convergent expression changes in specific genes associated with serotonin signaling. In contrast, BDNF-e4 and -e6 mutants were not aggressive but displayed impairments associated with GABAergic gene expression. Moreover, quantifications of BDNF protein in the hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus revealed that individual Bdnf transcripts make differential, region-specific contributions to total BDNF levels. The results highlight the biological significance of alternative Bdnf transcripts and provide evidence that individual isoforms serve distinct molecular and behavioral functions.
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Calabrese F, Riva MA, Molteni R. Synaptic alterations associated with depression and schizophrenia: potential as a therapeutic target. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2016; 20:1195-207. [PMID: 27167520 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2016.1188080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, the concept of 'synaptopathy' has been extended from neurodegenerative and neurological disorders to psychiatric diseases. According to this nascent line of research, disruption in synaptic structure and function acts as the main determinant of mental illness. Therefore, molecular systems and processes crucial for synaptic activity may represent promising therapeutic targets. AREAS COVERED We review data on synaptic structural alterations in depression and schizophrenia and on specific molecular systems and/or mechanisms important for the maintenance of proper synaptic function. Specifically, we examine the involvement of the neuroligin system, the local protein translation, and the neurotrophin BDNF by reviewing clinical and preclinical studies, with particular attention to results provided by using animal models based on the role of stress in psychiatric diseases. Finally, we also discuss the impact of pharmacological treatment on these molecular systems/mechanisms. EXPERT OPINION The relevance of synaptic dysfunctions in psychiatric diseases is undoubted and the potential to normalize, ameliorate, and shape such alterations by acting on molecular systems crucial to ensure synaptic function property is fascinating. However, future studies are required to elucidate several open issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Calabrese
- a Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Marco A Riva
- a Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- a Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
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31
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Chronic mild stress-induced alterations of clock gene expression in rat prefrontal cortex: modulatory effects of prolonged lurasidone treatment. Pharmacol Res 2015; 104:140-50. [PMID: 26742719 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Disruptions of biological rhythms are known to be associated with depressive disorders, suggesting that abnormalities in the molecular clock may contribute to the development of these disorders. These mechanisms have been extensively characterized in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, but little is know about the role exerted by individual clock genes in brain structures that are important for depressive disorders. Using the chronic mild stress model we found a significant reduction of BMAL1 and CLOCK protein levels in the nuclear compartment of the prefrontal cortex of CMS rats, which was paralleled by a down-regulation of the expression of several target genes, including Pers and Crys but also Reverbβ and Pparα. Interestingly, chronic treatment with the multi receptor modulator lurasidone (3mg/kg for 5 weeks) was able to normalize the molecular changes induced by CMS exposure in prefrontal cortex, but it was also able to regulate some of these genes within the hippocampus. We believe that changes in clock genes expression after CMS exposure may contribute to the disturbances associated with depressive disorders and that the ability of chronic lurasidone to normalize such alterations may be relevant for its therapeutic properties in ameliorating functions that are deteriorated in patients with major depression and other stress-related disorders.
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32
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Du X, Hill R. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone as a pro-neurotrophic treatment for neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurochem Int 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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TAAR1 Modulates Cortical Glutamate NMDA Receptor Function. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:2217-27. [PMID: 25749299 PMCID: PMC4613611 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 02/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in the mammalian brain and known to influence subcortical monoaminergic transmission. Monoamines, such as dopamine, also play an important role within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuitry, which is critically involved in high-o5rder cognitive processes. TAAR1-selective ligands have shown potential antipsychotic, antidepressant, and pro-cognitive effects in experimental animal models; however, it remains unclear whether TAAR1 can affect PFC-related processes and functions. In this study, we document a distinct pattern of expression of TAAR1 in the PFC, as well as altered subunit composition and deficient functionality of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the pyramidal neurons of layer V of PFC in mice lacking TAAR1. The dysregulated cortical glutamate transmission in TAAR1-KO mice was associated with aberrant behaviors in several tests, indicating a perseverative and impulsive phenotype of mutants. Conversely, pharmacological activation of TAAR1 with selective agonists reduced premature impulsive responses observed in the fixed-interval conditioning schedule in normal mice. Our study indicates that TAAR1 plays an important role in the modulation of NMDA receptor-mediated glutamate transmission in the PFC and related functions. Furthermore, these data suggest that the development of TAAR1-based drugs could provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of disorders related to aberrant cortical functions.
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Reinhart V, Bove SE, Volfson D, Lewis DA, Kleiman RJ, Lanz TA. Evaluation of TrkB and BDNF transcripts in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum from subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 77:220-7. [PMID: 25796564 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling is integral to a range of neural functions, including synaptic plasticity and exhibits activity-dependent regulation of expression. As altered BDNF signaling has been implicated in multiple psychiatric diseases, here we report a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of mRNAs encoding TrkB, total BDNF, and the four most abundant BDNF transcripts (I, IIc, IV, and VI) in postmortem tissue from matched tetrads of subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy comparison subjects. In all three regions examined, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), associative striatum and hippocampus, total BDNF mRNA levels did not differ in any disease state. In DLPFC, BDNF IIc was significantly lower in schizophrenia relative to healthy comparison subjects. In hippocampus, BDNF I, IIc, and VI were lower in subjects with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder relative to comparison subjects. In striatum, TrkB mRNA was lower in bipolar disorder and MDD, while BDNF IIc was elevated in MDD, relative to comparison subjects. These data highlight potential alterations in BDNF signaling in the corticohippocampal circuit in schizophrenia, and within the striatum in mood disorders. Novel therapies aimed at improving BDNF-TrkB signaling may therefore have potential to impact on a range of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David A Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robin J Kleiman
- Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Giannotti G, Caffino L, Malpighi C, Melfi S, Racagni G, Fumagalli F. A single exposure to cocaine during development elicits regionally-selective changes in basal basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF-2) gene expression and alters the trophic response to a second injection. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:713-9. [PMID: 25124315 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3708-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE During adolescence, the brain is maturing and more sensitive to drugs of abuse that can influence its developmental trajectory. Recently, attention has been focused on basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) given that its administration early in life enhances the acquisition of cocaine self-administration and sensitization at adulthood (Turner et al. (Pharmacol Biochem Behav 92:100-4, 2009), Clinton et al. (Pharmacol Biochem Behav103:6-17, 2012)). Additionally, we found that abstinence from adolescent cocaine exposure long lastingly dysregulates FGF-2 transcription (Giannotti et al. (Psychopharmacology (Berl) 225:553-60, 2013 ). OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study are to evaluate if (1) a single injection of cocaine (20 mg/kg) at postnatal day 35 alters FGF-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and (2) the first injection influences the trophic response to a second injection (10 mg/kg) provided 24 h or 7 days later. RESULTS We found regional differences in the FGF-2 expression pattern as either the first or the second injection of cocaine by themselves upregulated FGF-2 mRNA in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens while downregulating it in the hippocampus. The first injection influences the trophic response of the second. Of note, 24 h after the first injection, accumbal and hippocampal FGF-2 changes produced by cocaine in saline-pretreated rats were prevented in cocaine-pretreated rats. Conversely, in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus 7 days after the first injection, the cocaine-induced FGF-2 changes were modified by the subsequent exposure to the psychostimulant. CONCLUSIONS These findings show that a single cocaine injection is sufficient to produce enduring changes in the adolescent brain and indicate that early cocaine priming alters the mechanisms regulating the trophic response in a brain region-specific fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Giannotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milano, Italy
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Carta MG, Moro MF, Nardi AE, Calabrese JR. Potential use of lurasidone for the treatment of bipolar psychosis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2015; 24:575-84. [PMID: 25633339 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2015.1009976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) are new treatment options for bipolar disorders (BDs). Lurasidone is one such SGA, which is currently approved as a monotherapy for bipolar I depression (BPID) and as an add-on therapy for acute schizophrenia. AREAS COVERED In this drug evaluation, the authors illustrate the pharmacological profile of lurasidone and review its development history. The aim of this review is to evaluate whether this compound could be used in psychotic BDs. EXPERT OPINION The pharmacological profile of lurasidone, its action on receptors, its role in neurogenesis and its cognitive performance suggests a potential use in psychotic episodes of BDs and mania. This hypothesis is also supported by the clinical observations from case reports concerning resolutions of BPID with psychotic features, where psychotic episodes were diagnosed as schizophrenia and reclassified as BDs after the patient was able to reconstruct his/her clinical history. The use of lurasidone may have the advantage of a low side-effect profile and a possible efficacy in preventing the impairment of cognitive performance. However, randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of lurasidone in the treatment of manic episodes as well as manic episodes with psychotic components are still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Giovanni Carta
- University of Cagliari, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine , Cagliari , Italy
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Luoni A, Macchi F, Papp M, Molteni R, Riva MA. Lurasidone exerts antidepressant properties in the chronic mild stress model through the regulation of synaptic and neuroplastic mechanisms in the rat prefrontal cortex. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyu061. [PMID: 25522402 PMCID: PMC4360224 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyu061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depression is associated with several alterations, including reduced neuronal plasticity and impaired synaptic function, which represent an important target of pharmacological intervention. METHODS In the present study, we have investigated the ability of the antipsychotic drug lurasidone to modulate behavioral and neuroplastic alterations in the chronic mild stress model of depression. RESULTS Rats that show reduced sucrose consumption after 2 weeks of chronic mild stress have reduced expression of the pool of Bdnf transcripts with the long 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) that may be targeted to the synaptic compartment, suggesting the contribution of the neurotrophin to the behavioral dysfunction produced by chronic mild stress. The downregulation of Bdnf expression persisted also after 7 weeks of chronic mild stress, whereas chronic lurasidone treatment improved anhedonia in chronic mild stress rats and restored Bdnf mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, chronic lurasidone treatment was able to normalize chronic mild stress-induced defects of Psd95 and Gfap as well as changes in molecular regulators of protein translation at the synapse, including mTOR and eEF2. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that lurasidone shows antidepressant properties in the chronic mild stress model through the modulation of synaptic and neuroplastic proteins. Such changes may contribute to the amelioration of functional capacities, which are deteriorated in patients with major depression and stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Luoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy (Drs Luoni, Macchi, Molteni, and Riva); Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kracow, Poland (Dr Papp)
| | - Flavia Macchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy (Drs Luoni, Macchi, Molteni, and Riva); Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kracow, Poland (Dr Papp)
| | - Mariusz Papp
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy (Drs Luoni, Macchi, Molteni, and Riva); Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kracow, Poland (Dr Papp)
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy (Drs Luoni, Macchi, Molteni, and Riva); Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kracow, Poland (Dr Papp)
| | - Marco A Riva
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy (Drs Luoni, Macchi, Molteni, and Riva); Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kracow, Poland (Dr Papp).
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Findlay LJ, El-Mallakh P, El-Mallakh RS. Management of bipolar I depression: clinical utility of lurasidone. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2015; 11:75-81. [PMID: 25609973 PMCID: PMC4293929 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s57695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lurasidone is a benzisothiazol derivative second-generation antipsychotic. It has been approved in the United States and Europe for treatment of acute schizophrenia and bipolar depression. In type I bipolar subjects, treatment with lurasidone monotherapy of adjunctive therapy to lithium or valproic acid with doses of 20 to 120 mg once daily with food, results in statistically and clinically significant reduction of depressive symptoms. Patients experience relatively few side effects, which include somnolence, akathisia, nausea, and other gastrointestinal upset. Dopamine related side effects, such as Parkinsonism and elevated prolactin, are rare and mild. Longer term safety data obtained in 6 months long, open continuation observation periods, suggest that metabolic related elevations in weight, glucose, and lipids are absent or minimal. The mechanism of action of lurasidone is not known, but the data are compatible with antagonism of the serotonin 7 receptor. Lurasidone is a new option for the treatment of bipolar depression with relatively few side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rif S El-Mallakh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
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Caffino L, Calabrese F, Giannotti G, Barbon A, Verheij MMM, Racagni G, Fumagalli F. Stress rapidly dysregulates the glutamatergic synapse in the prefrontal cortex of cocaine-withdrawn adolescent rats. Addict Biol 2015; 20:158-69. [PMID: 24102978 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Although several lines of evidence have shown that chronic cocaine use is associated with stress system dysregulation, the underlying neurochemical mechanisms are still elusive. To investigate whether the rapid stress-induced response of the glutamatergic synapse was influenced by a previous history of cocaine, rats were exposed to repeated cocaine injections during adolescence [from postnatal day (PND) 28-42], subjected to a single swim stress (5 minutes) three days later (PND 45) and sacrificed 15 minutes after the end of this stressor. Critical determinants of glutamatergic homeostasis were measured in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) whereas circulating corticosterone levels were measured in the plasma. Exposure to stress in saline-treated animals did not show changes in the crucial determinants of the glutamatergic synapse. Conversely, in cocaine-treated animals, stress dynamically altered the glutamatergic synapse by: (1) enhancing the presynaptic vesicular mediators of glutamate release; (2) reducing the transporters responsible for glutamate clearance; (3) increasing the postsynaptic responsiveness of the N-methyl-D-aspartate subunit GluN1; and (4) causing hyperresponsive spines as evidenced by increased activation of the postsynaptic cdc42-Pak pathway. These findings indicate that exposure to cocaine during adolescence sensitizes mPFC glutamatergic synapses to stress. It is suggested that changes in glutamatergic signaling may contribute to the increased sensitivity to stress observed in cocaine users. Moreover, glutamatergic processes may play an important role in stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Caffino
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannotti
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
| | - Alessandro Barbon
- Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, National Institute of Neuroscience; University of Brescia; Brescia Italy
| | - Michel M. M. Verheij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Giorgio Racagni
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
- I.R.C.C.S. San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli; Brescia Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Centro di Neurofarmacologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
- Collaborative Center of Department of Antidrug Policies; Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome Italy
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Caffino L, Giannotti G, Malpighi C, Racagni G, Filip M, Fumagalli F. Long-Term Abstinence from Developmental Cocaine Exposure Alters Arc/Arg3.1 Modulation in the Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex. Neurotox Res 2014; 26:299-306. [DOI: 10.1007/s12640-014-9472-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Luoni A, Rocha FF, Riva MA. Anatomical specificity in the modulation of activity-regulated genes after acute or chronic lurasidone treatment. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 50:94-101. [PMID: 24361635 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Revised: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Lurasidone is a novel second generation antipsychotic drug characterized by a multi-receptor profile. Besides the high affinity for 5-HT2A and D2 receptors, it is also characterized by potent 5-HT7 receptor antagonism, which may be beneficial for mood and cognition. Considering that dose-dependent changes in receptor occupancy may differentially impact gene transcription, we aimed at investigating the effects of acute and chronic treatments with different doses of lurasidone (1, 3 and 10mg/kg) in rats on the expression of the activity-regulated genes Arc, Zif268 and Npas4, which are markers of neuronal activation and are also associated with neuroadaptive mechanisms. Our results show dose-dependent and anatomically-selective differences after acute and chronic lurasidone treatment. Indeed, the effects produced by acute treatment seem to reflect the modulatory activity of lurasidone at selected neurotransmitter receptors. In fact, low doses of the drug acted in the hippocampus, while high doses acted in the striatum, reflecting the high predominance of D2 receptor expression in this brain region. On the contrary, chronic treatment with lurasidone revealed a different profile of IEGs modulation, possibly reflecting neuroadaptive changes set in motion in response to repetitive drug exposure. In summary, the multi-receptor profile of lurasidone leads to the recruitment of different brain structures in a dose-related manner and this may be important for its therapeutic properties, particularly with respect to antidepressant activity and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Luoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio F Rocha
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, I-20133 Milan, Italy; Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
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Homberg JR, Molteni R, Calabrese F, Riva MA. The serotonin-BDNF duo: developmental implications for the vulnerability to psychopathology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 43:35-47. [PMID: 24704572 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF) are known to modulate behavioral responses to stress and to mediate the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant agents through neuroplastic and epigenetic mechanisms. While the two systems interact at several levels, this scenario is complicated by a number of variants including brain region specificity, 5-HT receptor selectivity and timing. Based on recent insights obtained using 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) knockout rats we here set-out and discuss the crucial role of neurodevelopmental mechanisms and the contribution of transcription factors and epigenetic modifications to this interaction and its variants. 5-HTT knockout in rats, as well as the low activity short allelic variant of the serotonin transporter human polymorphism, consistently show reduced BDNF mRNA and protein levels in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex. This starts during the second postnatal week, is preceded by DNA hypermethylation during the first postnatal week, and it is developmentally paralleled by reduced expression of key transcription factors. The reduced BDNF levels, in turn, affect 5-HT1A receptor-mediated intracellular signaling and thereby the serotonergic phenotype of the neurons. We propose that such a negative spiral of modifications may affect brain development and reduce its resiliency to environmental challenges during critical time windows, which may lead to phenotypic alterations that persist for the entire life. The characterization of 5-HT-BDNF interactions will eventually increase the understanding of mental illness etiology and, possibly, lead to the identification of novel molecular targets for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Regina Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 21, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Raffaella Molteni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco A Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Prolonged abstinence from developmental cocaine exposure dysregulates BDNF and its signaling network in the medial prefrontal cortex of adult rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 17:625-34. [PMID: 24345425 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145713001454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although evidence exists that chronic cocaine exposure during adulthood is associated with changes in BDNF expression, whether and how cocaine exposure during adolescence modulates BDNF is still unknown. To address this issue, we exposed rats to repeated cocaine injections from post-natal day (PD) 28 to PD 42, a period that roughly approximates adolescence in humans, and we carried out a detailed analysis of the BDNF system in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats sacrificed 3 d (PD 45) and 48 d (PD 90) after the last cocaine treatment. We found that developmental exposure to cocaine altered transcriptional and translational mechanisms governing neurotrophin expression. Total BDNF mRNA levels, in fact, were enhanced in the mPFC of PD 90 rats exposed to cocaine in adolescence, an effect sustained by changes in BDNF exon IV through the transcription factors CaRF and NF-kB. While a profound reduction of specific BDNF-related miRNAs (let7d, miR124 and miR132) may contribute to explaining the increased proBDNF levels, the up-regulation of the extracellular proteases tPA is indicative of increased processing leading to higher levels of released mBDNF. These changes were associated with increased activation of the trkB-Akt pathway resulting in enhanced pmTOR and pS6 kinase, which ultimately produced an up-regulation of Arc and a consequent reduction of GluA1 expression in the mPFC of PD 90 cocaine-treated rats. These findings demonstrate that developmental exposure to cocaine dynamically dysregulates BDNF and its signaling network in the mPFC of adult rats, providing novel mechanisms that may contribute to cocaine-induced changes in synaptic plasticity.
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Luoni A, Fumagalli F, Racagni G, Riva MA. Repeated aripiprazole treatment regulates Bdnf, Arc and Npas4 expression under basal condition as well as after an acute swim stress in the rat brain. Pharmacol Res 2013; 80:1-8. [PMID: 24309096 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2013.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Revised: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite the rapid control of schizophrenic symptoms is due to the ability of antipsychotic drugs (APDs) to block D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway, it is now well-established that the therapeutic effects rely on adaptive mechanisms set in motion by their long-term administration. Such neuroplastic mechanisms depend on the pharmacological profile of the drug employed, with marked differences existing between first and second generation APDs. On these bases, the major accomplishment of this work was to investigate neuroadaptive changes set in motion by repeated treatment with aripiprazole, a novel APD that is unique for being a partial agonist at dopamine D2 receptors. Moreover, given that stress plays a critical role in the exacerbation of disease symptoms, we also investigated whether aripiprazole could influence the dynamic response of the brain to an acute challenge. We found that repeated aripiprazole treatment in rats regulates the expression of different markers of neuroplasticity such as Bdnf, Arc and Npas4 in a brain-region specific fashion; more importantly, the expression of these molecules was significantly up-regulated by an acute swim stress only in aripiprazole-treated animals, which is suggestive of increased ability to cope with the adverse event. We indeed found an overall facilitation of Bdnf expression, an effect that is mainly evident in the prefrontal cortex on the pool of transcripts undergoing dendritic localization. Overall, our results provide novel information regarding the mechanisms through which aripiprazole may regulate brain function and could contribute to improve neuroplastic defects that are associated with schizophrenia symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Luoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Racagni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco A Riva
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Calabrese F, Guidotti G, Racagni G, Riva MA. Reduced neuroplasticity in aged rats: a role for the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 34:2768-76. [PMID: 23870838 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Revised: 06/01/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a physiological process characterized by a significant reduction of neuronal plasticity that might contribute to the functional defects observed in old subjects. Even if the neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to such impairment remain largely unknown, a role for neurotrophic molecules, such as the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has been postulated. On this basis, the purpose of this study was to provide a detailed investigation of the BDNF system, at transcriptional and translational levels, in the ventral and dorsal hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex of middle-aged and old rats, compared with in adult animals. The expression of major players in BDNF regulation and response, including the transcription factors, calcium-responsive transcription factor, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responsive element-binding protein (CREB), and neuronal Per Arnt Sim (PAS) domain protein 4, and the high-affinity receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), was also analyzed. Our results demonstrate that the BDNF system is affected at different levels in aged rats with global impairment including reduced transcription, impaired protein synthesis and processing, and decreased activation of the TrkB receptors. These modifications might contribute to the cognitive deficits associated with aging and suggest that pharmacological strategies aimed at restoring reduced neurotrophism might be useful to counteract age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Tarazi FI, Riva MA. The preclinical profile of lurasidone: clinical relevance for the treatment of schizophrenia. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2013; 8:1297-307. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2013.815163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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47
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Behavioural and neuroplastic properties of chronic lurasidone treatment in serotonin transporter knockout rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2013; 16:1319-30. [PMID: 23164505 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145712001332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) are multi-target agents widely used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that also hold potential for the treatment of impaired emotional control, thanks to their diverse receptor profiles as well as their potential in modulating neuroadaptive changes in key brain regions. The aim of this study was thus to establish the ability of lurasidone, a novel SGA characterized by a multi-receptor signature, to modulate behavioural and molecular defects associated with a genetic model of impaired emotional control, namely serotonin transporter knockout (SERT KO) rats. At behavioural level, we found that chronic lurasidone treatment significantly increased fear extinction in SERT KO rats, but not in wild-type control animals. Moreover, at molecular level, lurasidone was able to normalize the reduced expression of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex of SERT KO rats, an effect that occurred through the regulation of specific neurotrophin transcripts (primarily exon VI). Furthermore, chronic lurasidone treatment was also able to restore the reduced expression of different GABAergic markers that is present in these animals. Our results show that lurasidone can improve emotional control in SERT KO rats, with a primary impact on the prefrontal cortex. The adaptive changes set in motion by repeated treatment with lurasidone may in fact contribute to the amelioration of functional capacities, closely associated with neuronal plasticity, which are deteriorated in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disease and major depression.
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Molteni R, Macchi F, Riva MA. Gene expression profiling as functional readout of rodent models for psychiatric disorders. Cell Tissue Res 2013; 354:51-60. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-013-1648-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Region-specific effects on BDNF expression after contingent or non-contingent cocaine i.v. self-administration in rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2013; 16:913-8. [PMID: 23164369 DOI: 10.1017/s146114571200096x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) dynamic changes were investigated in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) during use and the early phases of cocaine abstinence after 14 sessions (2 h self-administration/d; 0.25 mg/0.1 ml.6 s infusion) by employing a 'yoked control-operant paradigm'. The effect on BDNF was region-specific and dependent on the withdrawal time. In the NAc, BDNF protein levels increased immediately after the last self-administration session, with a larger increase in passively cocaine-exposed rats. In the mPFC, BDNF expression was elevated 24 h after the last self-administration session, independently of how the drug was encountered. No changes were found in NAc and mPFC 7 d after the last self-administration session. Analysis of transcript levels in the mPFC indicated that action on exon I might contribute to BDNF's cortical induction. These findings indicate a finely tuned modulation of BDNF expression during use and early phases of cocaine abstinence.
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Dodd S, Maes M, Anderson G, Dean OM, Moylan S, Berk M. Putative neuroprotective agents in neuropsychiatric disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2013. [PMID: 23178231 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In many individuals with major neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, their disease characteristics are consistent with a neuroprogressive illness. This includes progressive structural brain changes, cognitive and functional decline, poorer treatment response and an increasing vulnerability to relapse with chronicity. The underlying molecular mechanisms of neuroprogression are thought to include neurotrophins and regulation of neurogenesis and apoptosis, neurotransmitters, inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, cortisol and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and epigenetic influences. Knowledge of the involvement of each of these pathways implies that specific agents that act on some or multiple of these pathways may thus block this cascade and have neuroprotective properties. This paper reviews the potential of the most promising of these agents, including lithium and other known psychotropics, aspirin, minocycline, statins, N-acetylcysteine, leptin and melatonin. These agents are putative neuroprotective agents for schizophrenia and mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seetal Dodd
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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