Morphine-induced Straub tail reaction in mice treated with serotonergic compounds

Constitutively active 5-HT₂ receptors have been suggested to contribute to motoneuronal excitability, muscle spasms and spasticity. Accordingly, 5-HT_2C receptor inverse agonists have been demonstrated in pilot experiments to reduce spasticity in animal model of spasticity and patients with spinal cord injuries. Thus, 5-HT_2C receptor inverse agonists may represent a novel class of anti-spasticity agents justifying a search for compounds with robust 5-HT_2C receptor inverse agonist activity either among the existing medications or via a dedicated drug discovery program. Morphine-induced Straub tail response in mice is regarded as a model of transient spasticity that may be suitable for supporting such drug discovery efforts. Subcutaneous injection of morphine (10-60mg/kg) induced a dose-dependent Straub tail reaction in male Swiss mice with maximum response obtained 15-30min after the morphine administration. When given prior to morphine, 5-HT_2B/2C receptor inverse agonists cyproheptadine (1-10mg/kg, i.p.) and SB206553 (0.3-3mg/kg, i.p.) diminished Straub tail reaction dose-dependently without affecting spontaneous locomotor activity. In contrast, 5-HT_2B/2C receptor antagonist methysergide (1-5.6mg/kg, i.p.) and 5-HT_2C receptor antagonist SB242084 (1-5.6mg/kg, i.p.) as well as 5-HT_2A receptor inverse agonist pimavanserin (1-10mg/kg, i.p.) had no appreciable effects on Straub tail response. Taken together, the findings indicate that constitutive activity of 5-HT_2B/2C receptor may be involved in the mechanisms of morphine-induced spasticity. Thus, morphine-induced Straub tail response may be evaluated further as a candidate higher throughput test to identify 5-HT_2C receptor inverse agonists with anti-spasticity effects in vivo.

Preclinical models of muscle spasticity: valuable tools in the development of novel treatment for neurological diseases and conditions

Poor validity of preclinical animal models is one of the most commonly discussed explanations for the failures to develop novel drugs in general and in neuroscience in particular. However, there are several areas of neuroscience such as injury-induced spasticity where etiological factor can be adequately recreated and models can focus on specific pathophysiological mechanisms that likely contribute to spasticity syndrome in humans (such as motoneuron hyperexcitability and spinal hyperreflexia). Methods used to study spasticity in preclinical models are expected to have a high translational value (e.g., electromyogram (EMG)-based electrophysiological tools) and can efficiently assist clinical development programs. However, validation of these models is not complete yet. First, true predictive validity of these models is not established as clinically efficacious drugs have been used to reverse validate preclinical models while newly discovered mechanisms effective in preclinical models are yet to be fully explored in humans (e.g., 5-HT2C receptor inverse agonists, fatty acid amid hydrolase inhibitors). Second, further efforts need to be invested into cross-laboratory validation of study protocols and tools, adherence to the highest quality standards (blinding, randomization, pre-specified study endpoints, etc.), and systematic efforts to replicate key sets of data. These appear to be readily achievable tasks that will enable development not only of symptomatic but also of disease-modifying therapy of spasticity, an area that seems to be currently not in focus of research efforts.