Pharmacological evaluation of novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, QCM-13 (N-cyclohexyl-3-methoxyquinoxalin-2-carboxamide) as anti-anxiety agent in behavioral test battery

Three methods of behavioural testing to measure anxiety - A review

Behavioural test is very useful to assess the anxiety activity, screen new anxiolytic drugs, explore the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Methods of behavioural testing that reflects different aspects of anxiety emotionality simultaneously have always been a critical issue for academics. In this paper, we reviewed previous methods to use behavioural test to evaluate the anxiety activity. A single test was used to measure only one aspect of anxiety emotionality. A battery of behavioural tests could get a comprehensive information of anxiety profile. In one single trial, open field test, elevated plus maze and light/dark box are integrated to assess different types of emotional behaviours. This new paradigm is useful for evaluating multiple dimensions of behaviours simultaneously, minimizing general concerns about previous test experience and inter-test intervals between tests. It is proposed as a promising alternative to using test battery.

Protective effects of duloxetine against chronic immobilisation stress-induced anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration in mice

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of duloxetine (10 and 20 mg/kg) against chronic immobilisation stress (CIS)-induced anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration in mice.

METHODS

CIS, 2 h/10 days (11:00 AM-1:00 PM) was applied after 30 min of pretreatment with saline, duloxetine 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg to the respective groups of animals, except the control group. Animals were examined for physiological (body weight, locomotion and grip strength), psychological (memory impairment, anxiety and depression), neurochemical (GABA and glutamate), biochemical (MDA, catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase) and histopathological changes.

KEY FINDINGS

CIS exposure revealed anxiety-like behaviour, depression-like behaviour, motor in-coordination and learning and memory impairment in mice. Besides, CIS induction decreased the antioxidant enzymes (GSH, SOD and catalase), GABA and the viable neuronal cell count, whereas CIS exposure significantly elevated the MDA, AChE activity and glutamate content in the cortex and hippocampus. Pretreatment with duloxetine10 and 20 mg/kg showed dose-dependent ameliorated effect against the CIS-induced alterations in mice.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated the protective effect of duloxetine against neuropsychiatric symptoms, memory impairment caused by CIS-induction through inhibition of oxidative stress, AChE activity and glutamate release.

A glycidyl methacrylate modified collagen/polyethylene glycol diacrylate hydrogel: a mechanically strong hydrogel for loading levofloxacin

Artificial suturing of incision after ocular trauma is very complicated and is prone to infection.

Single Administration of HBK-15-a Triple 5-HT1A, 5-HT7, and 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist-Reverses Depressive-Like Behaviors in Mouse Model of Depression Induced by Corticosterone

Studies suggest that the blockade of 5-HT1A, 5-HT7, and 5-HT3 receptor may increase the speed of antidepressant response. 1-[(2,6-Dimethylphenoxy)ethoxyethyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine hydrochloride (HBK-14) and 1-[(2-chloro-6-methylphenoxy)ethoxyethyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine hydrochloride (HBK-15), dual 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 antagonists, showed significant antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like properties in our previous tests in rodents. In this study, we aimed to investigate their antidepressant potential using mouse model of corticosterone-induced depression. We chose sucrose preference test, forced swim test, and elevated plus maze to determine anhedonic-, antidepressant-, and anxiolytic-like activities. We also evaluated the influence of the active compound on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in the hippocampus. Moreover, for both compounds, we performed biofunctional (5-HT3 receptor) and pharmacokinetic studies. We found that HBK-14 and HBK-15 were potent 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. HBK-14 (2.5 mg/kg) and HBK-15 (1.25 mg/kg) after intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration permeated the blood-brain barrier with brain/plasma ratio lower than 1. The bioavailability of studied compounds after i.p. administration was 15% for HBK-14 and 54% for HBK-15. Chronic administration of HBK-15 (1.25 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) protected corticosterone-treated mice from anhedonic-, depressive-, and anxiety-like behaviors, as well as decreases in BDNF and NGF levels in the hippocampus. HBK-14 (2.5 mg/kg) counteracted anxiety-like behaviors in corticosterone-treated mice. Single administration of HBK-15 (1.25 mg/kg) and ketamine (1 mg/kg) reversed depression-like behavior and regulated decreased BDNF level in the hippocampus in corticosterone-treated mice. Our results suggest that simultaneous blockade of serotonergic 5-HT1A, 5-HT7, and 5-HT3 receptors might accelerate antidepressant response.

Concordance and incongruence in preclinical anxiety models: Systematic review and meta-analyses

Rodent defense behavior assays have been widely used as preclinical models of anxiety to study possibly therapeutic anxiety-reducing interventions. However, some proposed anxiety-modulating factors - genes, drugs and stressors - have had discordant effects across different studies. To reconcile the effect sizes of purported anxiety factors, we conducted systematic review and meta-analyses of the literature on ten anxiety-linked interventions, as examined in the elevated plus maze, open field and light-dark box assays. Diazepam, 5-HT1A receptor gene knockout and overexpression, SERT gene knockout and overexpression, pain, restraint, social isolation, corticotropin-releasing hormone and Crhr1 were selected for review. Eight interventions had statistically significant effects on rodent anxiety, while Htr1a overexpression and Crh knockout did not. Evidence for publication bias was found in the diazepam, Htt knockout, and social isolation literatures. The Htr1a and Crhr1 results indicate a disconnect between preclinical science and clinical research. Furthermore, the meta-analytic data confirmed that genetic SERT anxiety effects were paradoxical in the context of the clinical use of SERT inhibitors to reduce anxiety.

The anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of ATPM-ET, a novel κ agonist and μ partial agonist, in mice

RATIONALE

Opioid receptors are implicated in the regulation of motivation and emotion. However, animal studies show that activation of κ opioid receptor produces contrasting mood-altering effects in models of anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors, and consequently, the role of κ receptor in mood control remains unsettled. The effect of κ/μ opioid combination in emotion regulation was unexplored.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of (-)-3-N-ethylaminothiazolo [5,4-b]-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan hydrochloride (ATPM-ET), a novel κ agonist and μ partial agonist, in regulating emotional responses.

METHODS

The emotional responses of ATPM-ET were detected in the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). Selective κ antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) and μ antagonist β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA) were applied to determine the type of receptor involved. The conditioned place aversion model was used to evaluate the effects on aversive emotion.

RESULTS

In the EPM and OFT, ATPM-ET (1 and 2 mg/kg, s.c.) significantly increased the time spent in the open arm and in the central area, respectively. In the FST and TST, ATPM-ET (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, s.c.) significantly reduced the duration of immobility. These effects were prevented by nor-BNI (10 mg/kg, i.p., -24 h), but not by β-FNA (10 and20 mg/kg, i.p., -24 h) pretreatment. At the dose of 2 mg/kg, ATPM-ET did not induce conditioned place aversion.

CONCLUSIONS

ATPM-ET, at doses from 0.5 to 2 mg/kg, produced anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects without inducing aversive emotion. These effects were more closely mediated by activation of κ receptor than μ receptor.