Ameliorating effects of cloperastine on dysfunction of the urinary bladder caused by cerebral infarction in conscious rats

Centrally acting non-narcotic antitussives prevent hyperactivity in mice: Involvement of GIRK channels

We have previously reported that centrally acting non-narcotic antitussives inhibited G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel-activated currents, and that the antitussives had multiple pharmacological actions on various models of intractable brain diseases in rodents. In this study, the question of whether these antitussives inhibit drug-induced hyperactivity in mice was investigated. Antitussives, such as cloperastine and tipepidine, at cough suppressant doses, inhibited an increase in ambulation of mice neonatally treated with 6-hydroxydopamine. In addition, all antitussives studied inhibited an increase in methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice. Methylphenidate, which is used for treatment of ADHD, inhibited 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion-induced, but not methamphetamine-induced, hyperactivity in mice. By the rota-rod test, the drugs had little effect on motor coordination of the hyperactive mice. Significant correlation was found between the ameliorating effects of antitussives on methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and their inhibitory actions on GIRK channel currents (coefficient factor, 0.998). Furthermore, tertiapin, a GIRK channel blocker, prevented an increase in methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity of mice. These results demonstrated that antitussive drugs (cloperastine, tipepidine and caramiphen) possessing inhibitory action on GIRK channels inhibit drug-induced hyperactivity in mice, suggesting that such antitussives may potentially be therapeutic for patients with ADHD.

Research Findings on Overactive Bladder

Several physiopathologic conditions lead to the manifestation of overactive bladder (OAB). These conditions include ageing, diabetes mellitus, bladder outlet obstruction, spinal cord injury, stroke and brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, interstitial cystitis, stress and depression. This review has discussed research findings in human and animal studies conducted on the above conditions. Several structural and functional changes under these conditions have not only been observed in the lower urinary tract, but also in the brain and spinal cord. Significant changes were observed in the following areas: neurotransmitters, prostaglandins, nerve growth factor, Rho-kinase, interstitial cells of Cajal, and ion and transient receptor potential channels. Interestingly, alterations in these areas showed great variation in each of the conditions of the OAB, suggesting that the pathophysiology of the OAB might be different in each condition of the disease. It is anticipated that this review will be helpful for further research on new and specific drug development against OAB.

Cloperastine rescues impairment of passive avoidance response in mice prenatally exposed to diethylstilbestrol

We previously reported that prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) impaired passive avoidance responses in mice. Apart from the above, we also found that cloperastine, a centrally acting antitussive, ameliorated depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents at antitussive-effective doses. In this study, we investigated whether or not cloperastine rescues impairment of passive avoidance responses in mice prenatally exposed to DES. Male DES-exposed mice were subcutaneously administered cloperastine at 10 or 30 mg/kg twice a day from 32 to 41 days after birth and subjected to behavioral testing 42 to 46 days after birth. Cloperastine at 10 and 30 mg/kg ameliorated DES-induced impairment of passive avoidance responses. In addition, cloperastine affected the levels of 5-HT1A receptors, GIRK and BDNF in the hippocampus of DES-exposed mice. However, the number of BrdU-positive cells in the hippocampus of DES-exposed mice was not changed by chronic administration of cloperastine. These findings suggest that the action of endocrine disruptors in the brain may not always be irreversible, and that the symptoms caused by endocrine disruptors might be curable with drugs such as cloperastine.

Multiple pharmacological actions of centrally acting antitussives--Do they target G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K⁺ (GIRK) channels?

Antitussive drugs have been used for decades and their modes of action are well elucidated. However, recent studies on the mechanism of their antitussive action seem to be opening a new way for discovery or development of novel drugs for intractable brain diseases including psychiatric disorders. Antitussives inhibit the currents caused by activation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K⁺ (GIRK) channels in neurons. In our own studies carried out so far, we found that antitussives possessing an inhibitory action on GIRK channels, similar to the effects of an enriched environment, ameliorate symptoms of intractable brain diseases in various animal models. In this review, the multiple pharmacological actions of the antitussives are described, and their mechanisms are discussed addressing GIRK channels as a possible molecular target.