Modification of the tremorigenic activity of physostigmine

Synthesis of iboga-like isoquinuclidines: Dual opioid receptors agonists having antinociceptive properties

Some novel iboga-analogues consisting of benzofuran moiety and dehydroisoquinuclidine ring connected by -CH2-, (CH2)2 and (CH2)3 linkers have been synthesized with the view to develop potential antinociceptive drugs. The compounds 14 and 21 showed binding at the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), while the compound 11a exhibited dual affinities at both MOR and κ-opioid receptor (KOR). MAP kinase activation indicated all three compounds have opioid agonistic properties. The presence of a double bond and endo-methylcarboxylate group in the dehydroisoquinuclidine ring and the benzofuran and methylene spacer appeared to be essential for opioid receptor binding. Further studies demonstrated 11a caused significant antinociception in mice in the hot-plate test which was comparable to that produced by morphine. The compound 11a was also found to be nontremorigenic unlike various iboga congeners. This study identifies a new pharmacophore which may lead to the development of suitable substitute of morphine in the treatment of pain.

Effects of serotoninergic drugs on tremor induced by physostigmine in rats

We investigated the effects of various serotoninergic drugs and serotonin (5-HT) depletion on physostigmine-induced visible tremor in rats. Physostigmine (0.25-1.5 mg/kg) caused dose-dependent tremor, initiated at 3-5 min (latency decreases as dose increases) and lasted for 30-35 min. Serotonin agonists, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (2.5 mg/kg) and buspirone (5 mg/kg) augmented the tremor response caused by physostigmine. The 5-HT(1)/5-HT(2) receptor antagonist, metergoline (1 mg/kg), and 5-HT(2) blocker, cyproheptadine (10 mg/kg) significantly decreased the duration (40%) as well as intensity (45-50%) of physostigmine-tremor. The 5-HT(2a)/5-HT(2c) antagonist ritanserin (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration (60%) without affecting the intensity of the tremor. In 5-HT depleted rats (p-chlorophenylalanine; 300 mg/kg, for 3 days), physostigmine failed to produce tremor. Interestingly, in these animals, administration of a non-specific 5-HT agonist, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl tryptamine, caused high intensity tremor. These results suggest that presence of 5-HT at the pre-synaptic terminals is needed for the tremor response by physostigmine and the response is greatly mediated via post-synaptic 5-HT receptors. The overall data indicated a direct involvement of central 5-HT system in the cholinergic tremor induced by physostigmine.

Scopolamine reversal of tremor produced by low doses of physostigmine in rats: evidence for a cholinergic mechanism

In order to provide evidence for the involvement of cholinergic mechanisms in a low-dose physostigmine-induced tremor, a novel technique for measuring forelimb tremor in rats was used. Rats that were administered physostigmine (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), scopolamine (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg, s.c.), and combinations of the two drugs, pressed a force-sensing operandum while a computer measured force output and performed Fourier analyses on resulting force-time waveforms. When given alone, both drugs decreased task engagement but mutually antagonized this effect when given together. Physostigmine increased tremors as well as peak force. Scopolamine decreased tremor and force when administered alone and reversed physostigmine-induced increases in force and tremor. Physostigmine's low-dose induction of increased tremor during rats' skilled forelimb use appears to have a prominent cholinergic component.

Opposite effects of cholinergic agents and benzodiazepine receptor ligands in a passive avoidance task in rats

Benzodiazepine (Bzd) agonist, diazepam (Dzp) and inverse agonist methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM); acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine (Physo) and muscarinic antagonist, scopolamine (Scopo), were investigated for their mnesic effect in a passive avoidance (PA) task in rats. Impairments were observed after Dzp- and/or Scopo-pretraining treatments. Physo was without effect but antagonized the Dzp-induced impairments. beta-CCM enhanced acquisition and antagonized the Scopo-induced impairing effect. All these drugs had no effect in posttraining administration.

Tremorogenesis by physostigmine is unrelated to acetylcholinesterase inhibition: evidence for serotoninergic involvement

Studies were performed to bring out a serotoninergic involvement in physostigmine tremor, hitherto known to be working via the cholinergic system. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was estimated fluorimetrically after isolation on Sephadex G-10 and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was assayed spectrophotometrically. The dose-dependent tremor was quantified by a double-blind study. No correlation (r = 0.01) existed between tremor and AChE inhibition since the non-tremoring dose of physostigmine caused the same degree of enzyme inhibition. An increase of 5-HT was found to be correlated (r = 0.59) with the duration and intensity of tremor. Cholinergic antagonists atropine (2 and 5 mg/kg, i.p.), scopolamine (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and mecamylamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to block the tremor while the 5-HT antagonists methysergide (5 mg/kg, i.v.) and cyproheptadine (10 and 30 mg/kg, s.c.) could afford more than 60% protection. These results suggest a serotoninergic rather than a cholinergic component in the genesis of physostigmine tremor.

Quantitative analysis of physostigmine-induced changes in behavior

This paper reports the use of an RF capacitance field transducer and spectral analysis to examine the effects of the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine on the behavior of unrestrained rats. The technique is shown to permit simultaneous quantification of changes in a variety of motor behaviors. Physostigmine induced a dose-related increase in high-frequency movements and reduced low-frequency movements, but had no effect upon habituation of five to ten Hz movements which occurred with continuous exposure to the testing apparatus.

Quantification of tremor in rats induced by physostigmine

A simple and accurate device for recording tremor intensity in unanaesthetized and unrestrained rats is described. The physical measures of tremor are shown to have several advantages over previous devices. First, the new apparatus, unlike some earlier ones, does not restrict the animal's movements to an unusually small cage, with weighty mechanical devices or with electrical leads. Second, most earlier methods for measuring tremor use a subjective rating scale. However, the present method uses objective and reliable measures. In a double-blind, illustrative experiment involving complete crossover, Wistar rats were randomly injected IP with physostigmine in doses of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mg/kg or the corresponding amount of 0.9% NaCl solution as control. The recorded tremor intensity showed a clear dose-response relationship for physostigmine. Moreover, linear regression of the dose-response relationship showed that tremor intensity increased linearly with increasing doses of physostigmine. The cholinergic antagonist atropine (0.3 mg/kg SC) antagonized physostigmine-induced tremor, whereas methylatropine (0.3 mg/kg SC) tended to potentiate it. These results show that the technique described is suitable for quantification of tremor intensity in rats and for testing drug interactions on physostigmine-induced tremor.

A simple method for quantifying tremor in rodents

A simple and accurate device to evaluate frequency and intensity of involuntary tremor is described. Discrete and quantifiable measures of tremor could be obtained in terms of vertical (i.e., absolute effects at a given time) and horizontal (i.e. temporal) changes. The technique was evaluated employing dosages of physostigmine 0.1-0.7 mg/kg. Applications to other behavioral indices, such as locomotor activity and wet-dog shakes, are discussed.