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Hernández-Hernández E, Ledesma-Corvi S, Jornet-Plaza J, García-Fuster MJ. Fast-acting antidepressant-like effects of ketamine in aged male rats. Pharmacol Rep 2024:10.1007/s43440-024-00636-y. [PMID: 39158787 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00636-y] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aging process causes anatomical and physiological changes that predispose to the development of late-life depression while reduces the efficacy of classical antidepressants. Novel fast-acting antidepressants such as ketamine might be good candidates to be explored in the context of aging, especially given the lack of previous research on its efficacy for this age period. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterize ketamine's effects in older rats. METHODS The fast-acting (30 min) and repeated (7 days) antidepressant-like effects of ketamine (5 mg/kg, ip) were evaluated in 14-month-old single-housed rats through the forced-swim and novelty-suppressed feeding tests. In parallel, the modulation of neurotrophic-related proteins (i.e., mBDNF, mTOR, GSK3) was assessed in brain regions affected by the aging process, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, as well as possible changes in hippocampal cell proliferation. RESULTS Acute ketamine induced a fast-acting antidepressant-like response in male aged rats, as observed by a reduced immobility in the forced-swim test, in parallel with a region-specific increase in mBDNF protein content in prefrontal cortex. However, repeated ketamine failed to induce antidepressant-like efficacy, but decreased mBDNF protein content in prefrontal cortex. The rate of hippocampal cell proliferation and/or other markers evaluated was not modulated by either paradigm of ketamine. CONCLUSIONS These results complement prior data supporting a fast-acting antidepressant-like effect of ketamine in rats, to further extend its efficacy to older ages. Future studies are needed to further clarify the lack of response after the repeated treatment as well as its potential adverse effects in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Hernández-Hernández
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, Palma, E-07122, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
- Present address: Department of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country (EHU/UPV), Leioa, Spain
| | - Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, Palma, E-07122, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Jordi Jornet-Plaza
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, Palma, E-07122, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, Palma, E-07122, Spain.
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain.
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
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Menculini G, Cinesi G, Scopetta F, Cardelli M, Caramanico G, Balducci PM, De Giorgi F, Moretti P, Tortorella A. Major challenges in youth psychopathology: treatment-resistant depression. A narrative review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1417977. [PMID: 39056019 PMCID: PMC11269237 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1417977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a major health issue in adolescents and young adults, leading to high levels of disability and profoundly impacting overall functioning. The clinical presentation of MDD in this vulnerable age group may slightly differ from what can be observed in adult populations, and psychopharmacological strategies do not always lead to optimal response. Resistance to antidepressant treatment has a prevalence estimated around 40% in youths suffering from MDD and is associated with higher comorbidity rates and suicidality. Several factors, encompassing biological, environmental, and clinical features, may contribute to the emergence of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in adolescents and young adults. Furthermore, TRD may underpin the presence of an unrecognized bipolar diathesis, increasing the overall complexity of the clinical picture and posing major differential diagnosis challenges in the clinical practice. After summarizing current evidence on epidemiological and clinical correlates of TRD in adolescents and young adults, the present review also provides an overview of possible treatment strategies, including novel fast-acting antidepressants. Despite these pharmacological agents are promising in this population, their usage is expected to rely on risk-benefit ratio and to be considered in the context of integrated models of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Menculini
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Cinesi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca Scopetta
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Matteo Cardelli
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Guido Caramanico
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Maria Balducci
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Community Mental Health Center “CSM Terni”, Department of Psychiatry, Local Health Unit USL Umbria 2, Terni, Italy
| | - Filippo De Giorgi
- Division of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, General Hospital of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Moretti
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Alfonso Tortorella
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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3
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Ledesma-Corvi S, Jornet-Plaza J, Gálvez-Melero L, García-Fuster MJ. Novel rapid treatment options for adolescent depression. Pharmacol Res 2024; 201:107085. [PMID: 38309382 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107085] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for novel fast-acting antidepressants for adolescent treatment-resistant depression and/or suicidal risk, since the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are clinically approved for that age (i.e., fluoxetine or escitalopram) take weeks to work. In this context, one of the main research lines of our group is to characterize at the preclinical level novel approaches for rapid-acting antidepressants for adolescence. The present review summarizes the potential use in adolescence of non-pharmacological options, such as neuromodulators (electroconvulsive therapy and other innovative types of brain stimulation), as well as pharmacological options, including consciousness-altering drugs (mainly ketamine but also classical psychedelics) and cannabinoids (i.e., cannabidiol), with promising fast-acting responses. Following a brief analytical explanation of adolescent depression, we present a general introduction for each therapeutical approach together with the clinical evidence supporting its potential beneficial use in adolescence (mainly extrapolated from prior successful examples for adults), to then report recent and/or ongoing preclinical studies that will aid in improving the inclusion of these therapies in the clinic, by considering potential sex-, age-, and dose-related differences, and/or other factors that might affect efficacy or long-term safety. Finally, we conclude the review by providing future avenues to maximize treatment response, including the need for more clinical studies and the importance of designing and/or testing novel treatment options that are safe and fast-acting for adolescent depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Jordi Jornet-Plaza
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Laura Gálvez-Melero
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- Neuropharmacology Research Group, IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
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4
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Pérez-Valenzuela E, Hudson R, Uzuneser T, De Felice M, Szkudlarek H, Rushlow W, Laviolette SR. Sex-Dependent Synergism of an Edible THC: CBD Formulation in Reducing Anxiety and Depressive-like Symptoms Following Chronic Stress. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:2059-2078. [PMID: 37702237 PMCID: PMC11333796 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230912101441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis has shown therapeutic potential in mood and anxiety-related pathologies. However, the two primary constituents of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produce distinct effects on molecular pathways in neural circuits associated with affective disorders. Moreover, it has been proposed that the combination of THC: and CBD may have unique synergistic properties. In the present study, the effects of a 1:100 THC: CBD ratio edible formulation were tested in behavioural, neuronal and molecular assays for anxiety and depressive-like endophenotypes. Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were stressed for 14 days. Then, for three weeks, open field, elevated plus maze, light/dark box, social interaction, sucrose preference, and the forced swim test were performed 90 minutes after acute consumption of CBD (30 mg/kg), THC (0.3 mg/kg), or 1:100 combination of THC:CBD. After behavioural tests, in vivo, neuronal electrophysiological analyses were performed in the ventral tegmental area and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Furthermore, western-blot experiments examined the expression of biomarkers associated with mood and anxiety disorders, including protein kinase B (Akt), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), BDNF, mTOR, D1, and D2 receptor in nucleus accumbens (NAc) and PFC.Edible THC:CBD produces significant anxiolytic and antidepressant effects only in stressed male rats. In most cases, the combination of THC and CBD had stronger effects than either phytochemical alone. These synergistic effects are associated with alterations in Akt/GSK3 and D2-R expression in NAc and BDNF expression in PFC. Furthermore, THC:CBD reverses chronic stress-induced alterations in PFC neuronal activity. These findings demonstrate a novel synergistic potential for THC:CBD edible formulations in stress-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enzo Pérez-Valenzuela
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Roger Hudson
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Taygun Uzuneser
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Marta De Felice
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna Szkudlarek
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Walter Rushlow
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - Steven R. Laviolette
- Addiction Research Group, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
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Ledesma-Corvi S, Jornet-Plaza J, García-Fuster MJ. Aromatase inhibition and ketamine in rats: sex-differences in antidepressant-like efficacy. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:73. [PMID: 37876000 PMCID: PMC10599051 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00560-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ketamine has been recently approved to treat resistant depression; however preclinical studies showed sex differences in its efficacy. Sex steroids, such as estrogens and testosterone, both in the periphery and locally in the brain, are regarded as important modulators of these sex differences. Therefore, the present study evaluated how inhibiting the biosynthesis of estrogens with letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor) could affect the observed sex differences in ketamine's antidepressant-like-response. METHODS We performed several consecutive studies in adult Sprague-Dawley rats to evaluate potential sex differences in the antidepressant-like effects of ketamine (5 mg/kg, 7 days, i.p.), letrozole (1 mg/kg, 8 days, i.p.) and their combination (letrozole pre-treatment 3 h before ketamine). Acute and repeated antidepressant-like responses were ascertained in a series of behavioral tests (forced-swim, novelty-suppressed feeding, two-bottle choice for sucrose preference). RESULTS The main results proved clear sex differences in the antidepressant-like response induced by ketamine, which was observed following a repeated paradigm in adult male rats, but rendered inefficacious in female rats. Moreover, decreasing estrogens production with letrozole induced on itself an antidepressant-like response in female rats, while also increased ketamine's response in male rats (i.e., quicker response observed after only a single dose). Interestingly, both the antidepressant-like effects induced by ketamine in male rats or letrozole in female rats persisted over time up to 65 days post-treatment, suggesting long-term sex-directed benefits for these drugs. CONCLUSIONS The present results demonstrated a sex-specific role for aromatase inhibition with letrozole in the antidepressant-like response induced by ketamine in male rats. Moreover, letrozole itself presented as a potential antidepressant for females with persistent effects over time. Clearly, the production of estrogens is key in modulating, in a sex-specific manner, affective-like responses and thus deserve further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Jordi Jornet-Plaza
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain.
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain.
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
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Denson RK, Brooks J, Pinna G, Crane NA. Effects of Cannabidiol in Adolescent and Young Adult Depressive and Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Research. ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY 2023; 13:176-194. [PMID: 38919887 PMCID: PMC11198978 DOI: 10.2174/0122106766233339230919143924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Background Adolescents and young adults may use cannabidiol (CBD) products in an attempt to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, despite little research examining this use. This systematic review evaluated preclinical and clinical research on the effects of CBD on depressive and anxiety disorders in adolescence and young adulthood. To provide context, we discuss CBD's mechanism of action and neurodevelopmental effects. Methods PubMed was searched for articles published through June 2022. Preclinical or clinical CBD administration studies with N > 1 that examined depressive and/or anxiety disorders were eligible. Results Initially, 224 publications were identified. After excluding duplicates and applying eligibility criteria, 6 preclinical (depression: n≈133; anxiety: n≈161) and 4 clinical (anxiety: n=113) articles remained. Due to the low number of studies, results were synthesized qualitatively. The Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence were used to rate each study's evidence. The preclinical effects of CBD on depression-like behavior appear to differ by sex, early life stress, and duration of use. Despite no evidence that CBD exerts anxiolytic effects in preclinical adolescent models, CBD may reduce anxiety symptoms in human adolescents and young adults with anxiety disorders. Conclusions The existing evidence suggests that CBD may reduce symptoms of anxiety in adolescents and young adults. However, the evidence is sparse and limited by variations in samples and CBD dosing duration. Further research is needed to understand the potential benefits and/or harms of CBD for depression and anxiety disorders in this population. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Brooks
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - Graziano Pinna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago
- UI Center on Depression and Resilience (UICDR), University of Illinois at Chicago
- Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, University of Illinois at Chicago
- The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - Natania A. Crane
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago
- UI Center on Depression and Resilience (UICDR), University of Illinois at Chicago
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Ledesma-Corvi S, García-Fuster MJ. Comparing the antidepressant-like effects of electroconvulsive seizures in adolescent and adult female rats: an intensity dose-response study. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:67. [PMID: 37777813 PMCID: PMC10541687 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00552-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The induction of electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) in rodents induces sex- and age-specific disparities in antidepressant-like responses, with females and young age being the most unresponsive ones. Since the electrical charge needed to induce an effective convulsion is also altered by these variables, our aim was to compare different dose-intensities of ECS exclusively in female rats, since there is a lack of preclinical data characterizing this particular sex, while also evaluating efficacy during distinctive age periods of treatment (adolescence vs. adulthood). METHODS Adolescent and adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to an intensity dose-response study (55, 75 or 95 mA; 0.6 s, 100 Hz, 1 session/day, 5 days). The particular characteristics of the induced convulsions (tonic, clonic, recovery times) were monitored during treatment. Antidepressant-like responses were evaluated under the stress of the forced-swim test 1-, 3-, and 7-days post-treatment (i.e., improved immobility time as an indicative of an antidepressant-like response), and brains were collected 24 h later (8 days post-treatment) to evaluate potential changes in hippocampal neurogenesis (Ki-67 and NeuroD) by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The lowest intensities tested of ECS (55 and 75 mA) induced an antidepressant-like effect in adult female rats, but rendered insufficient in adolescence. The lack of efficacy observed in adolescent rats paralleled differences in the characteristics of the seizures induced by ECS as compared to adulthood. In line with prior results, different dose-intensities of ECS modulated hippocampal neurogenesis in a comparable fashion with age (i.e., increased survival of neural progenitors 8 days post-treatment). CONCLUSIONS In conjunction, these results reinforce the importance of fine-tuning the parameters of ECS that might render efficacious while considering sex and age as essential variables for treatment response, and suggest that other molecular mechanisms, beside the partial role of hippocampal neurogenesis, might be participating in the antidepressant-like effects induced by ECS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain.
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain.
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
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Ledesma-Corvi S, García-Fuster MJ. Aromatase Inhibition and Electroconvulsive Seizures in Adolescent Rats: Antidepressant and Long-Term Cognitive Sex Differences. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 26:607-615. [PMID: 37559395 PMCID: PMC10519810 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We recently showed sex differences in the antidepressant-like potential of electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) in adolescent rats; whereas it worked for male rats, it was inefficacious in females. Because sex steroids might be important modulators of these sex disparities, we evaluated the role of estrogens in the differential response induced by adolescent ECS. Moreover, given the literature suggesting certain cognitive sequelae from ECS exposure, we aimed at evaluating its long-term safety profile in adulthood. METHODS Adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with letrozole (1 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (1 mL/kg/day) for 8 days (i.p.) and treated during the last 5 days (3 hours later) with ECS (95 mA, 0.6 s, 100 Hz) or SHAM. Antidepressant-like responses were measured in the forced swim test, and long-term cognitive performance was assessed in the Barnes maze. RESULTS During adolescence, whereas ECS alone exerted an antidepressant-like response in male rats, its combination with letrozole permitted ECS to also induce efficacy in females. Moreover, adolescent ECS treatment improved cognitive performance in adulthood although exclusively in male rats. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent ECS demonstrated an antidepressant-like potential together with certain long-term beneficial cognitive effects but exclusively in male rats. For females, efficacy was restricted to a situation in which the biosynthesis of estrogens was reduced. Therefore, estrogens and/or testosterone levels play a crucial role in the sex disparities induced by ECS in Sprague-Dawley rats. Based on this study and on the literature supporting its safety, ECS should be encouraged for use in cases of treatment-resistant depression during adolescence, while adhering to sex-specific considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
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9
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Hernández-Hernández E, Ledesma-Corvi S, Yáñez-Gómez F, Garau C, Gálvez-Melero L, Bagán A, Escolano C, García-Fuster MJ. Sex differences in the antidepressant-like response and molecular events induced by the imidazoline-2 receptor agonist CR4056 in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 223:173527. [PMID: 36781025 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
In searching for novel targets to design antidepressants, among the characterized imidazoline receptors (IR), I2 receptors are an innovative therapeutical approach since they are dysregulated in major depressive disorder and by classical antidepressant treatments. In fact, several I2 agonists have been characterized for their antidepressant-like potential, but the results in terms of efficacy were mixed and exclusively reported in male rodents. Since there are well-known sex differences in antidepressant-like efficacy, this study characterized the potential effects induced by two I2 drugs, CR4056 (i.e., most promising drug already in phase II clinical trial for its analgesic properties) and B06 (a compound from a new family of bicyclic α-iminophosphonates) under the stress of the forced-swim test in male and female rats exposed to early-life stress. Moreover, some hippocampal neuroplasticity markers related to the potential effects observed were also evaluated (i.e., FADD, p-ERK/ERK, mBDNF, cell proliferation: Ki-67 + cells). The main results replicated the only prior study reporting the efficacy of CR4056 in male rats, while providing new data on its efficacy in females, which was clearly dependent on prior early-life stress exposure. Moreover, B06 showed no antidepressant-like effects in male or female rats. Finally, CR4056 increased FADD content and decreased cell proliferation in hippocampus, without affecting p-ERK/t-ERK ratio and/or mBDNF content. Interestingly, these effects were exclusively observed in female rats, and independently of early-life conditions, suggesting some distinctive molecular underpinnings participating in the therapeutic response of CR4056 for both sexes. In conjunction, these results present CR4056 with an antidepressant-like potential, especially in female rats exposed to stress early in life, together with some neuronal correlates described in the context of these behavioral changes in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Hernández-Hernández
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Sandra Ledesma-Corvi
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Fernando Yáñez-Gómez
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Celia Garau
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Laura Gálvez-Melero
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | - Andrea Bagán
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Escolano
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Julia García-Fuster
- IUNICS, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain; Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain.
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Matheson J, Bourgault Z, Le Foll B. Sex Differences in the Neuropsychiatric Effects and Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol: A Scoping Review. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101462. [PMID: 36291671 PMCID: PMC9599539 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid compound with diverse molecular targets and potential therapeutic effects, including effects relevant to the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In this scoping review, we sought to determine the extent to which sex and gender have been considered as potential moderators of the neuropsychiatric effects and pharmacokinetics of CBD. In this case, 300 articles were screened, retrieved from searches in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, PsycInfo and CINAHL, though only 12 met our eligibility criteria: eight studies in preclinical models and four studies in humans. Among the preclinical studies, three suggested that sex may influence long-term effects of gestational or adolescent exposure to CBD; two found no impact of sex on CBD modulation of addiction-relevant effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); two found antidepressant-like effects of CBD in males only; and one found greater plasma and liver CBD concentrations in females compared to males. Among the human studies, two found no sex difference in CBD pharmacokinetics in patient samples, one found greater plasma CBD concentrations in healthy females compared to males, and one found no evidence of sex differences in the effects of CBD on responses to trauma recall in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No studies were identified that considered the role of gender in CBD treatment effects. We discuss potential implications and current limitations of the existing literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Matheson
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Zoe Bourgault
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Acute Care Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1G3, Canada
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