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Nyitrai G, Spisák T, Spisák Z, Gajári D, Diószegi P, Kincses TZ, Czurkó A. Stepwise occlusion of the carotid arteries of the rat: MRI assessment of the effect of donepezil and hypoperfusion-induced brain atrophy and white matter microstructural changes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198265. [PMID: 29851990 PMCID: PMC5979036 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo) in the rat is a widely used animal model of vascular dementia and a valuable tool for preclinical pharmacological drug testing, although the varying degrees of acute focal ischemic lesions it induces could interfere with its translational value. Recently, a modification to the BCCAo model, the stepwise occlusion of the two carotid arteries, has been introduced. To acquire objective translatable measures, we used longitudinal multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the effects of semi-chronic (8 days) donepezil treatment in this model, with half of the Wistar rats receiving the treatment one week after the stepwise BCCAo. With an ultrahigh field MRI, we measured high-resolution anatomy, diffusion tensor imaging, cerebral blood flow measurements and functional MRI in response to whisker stimulation, to evaluate both the structural and functional effects of the donepezil treatment and stepwise BCCAo up to 5 weeks post-occlusion. While no large ischemic lesions were detected, atrophy in the striatum and in the neocortex, along with widespread white matter microstructural changes, were found. Donepezil ameliorated the transient drop in the somatosensory BOLD response in distant cortical areas, as detected 2 weeks after the occlusion but the drug had no effect on the long term structural changes. Our results demonstrate a measurable functional MRI effect of the donepezil treatment and the importance of diffusion MRI and voxel based morphometry (VBM) analysis in the translational evaluation of the rat BCCAo model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Nyitrai
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail:
| | - Tamás Spisák
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Spisák
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Gajári
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pálma Diószegi
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Zsigmond Kincses
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - András Czurkó
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
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Spisák T, Pozsgay Z, Aranyi C, Dávid S, Kocsis P, Nyitrai G, Gajári D, Emri M, Czurkó A, Kincses ZT. Central sensitization-related changes of effective and functional connectivity in the rat inflammatory trigeminal pain model. Neuroscience 2016; 344:133-147. [PMID: 28003158 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Central sensitization is a key mechanism in the pathology of several neuropathic pain disorders. We aimed to investigate the underlying brain connectivity changes in a rat model of chronic pain. Non-noxious whisker stimulation was used to evoke blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in a block-design functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) experiment on 9.4T. Measurements were repeated two days and one week after injecting complete Freund's adjuvant into the rats' whisker pad. We found that acute pain reduced activation in the barrel cortex, most probably due to a plateau effect. After one week, increased activation of the anterior cingulate cortex was found. Analyses of effective connectivity driven by stimulus-related activation revealed that chronic pain-related central sensitization manifested as a widespread alteration in the activity of the somatosensory network. Changes were mainly mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex and the striatum and affected the somatosensory and motor cortices and the superior colliculus. Functional connectivity analysis of nested BOLD oscillations justified that the anterior cingular-somatosensory interplay is a key element of network changes. Additionally, a decreased cingulo-motor functional connectivity implies that alterations also involve the output tract of the network. Our results extend the knowledge about the role of the cingulate cortex in the chronification of pain and indicate that integration of multiple connectivity analysis could be fruitful in studying the central sensitization in the pain matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Spisák
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Zsófia Pozsgay
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csaba Aranyi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Dávid
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pál Kocsis
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Dávid Gajári
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós Emri
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - András Czurkó
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsigmond Tamás Kincses
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary; Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Hungary; International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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Sápi J, Kovács L, Drexler DA, Kocsis P, Gajári D, Sápi Z. Tumor Volume Estimation and Quasi-Continuous Administration for Most Effective Bevacizumab Therapy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142190. [PMID: 26540189 PMCID: PMC4635016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Bevacizumab is an exogenous inhibitor which inhibits the biological activity of human VEGF. Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of bevacizumab therapy according to different cancer types but these days there is an intense debate on its utility. We have investigated different methods to find the best tumor volume estimation since it creates the possibility for precise and effective drug administration with a much lower dose than in the protocol. Materials and Methods We have examined C38 mouse colon adenocarcinoma and HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma. In both cases, three groups were compared in the experiments. The first group did not receive therapy, the second group received one 200 μg bevacizumab dose for a treatment period (protocol-based therapy), and the third group received 1.1 μg bevacizumab every day (quasi-continuous therapy). Tumor volume measurement was performed by digital caliper and small animal MRI. The mathematical relationship between MRI-measured tumor volume and mass was investigated to estimate accurate tumor volume using caliper-measured data. A two-dimensional mathematical model was applied for tumor volume evaluation, and tumor- and therapy-specific constants were calculated for the three different groups. The effectiveness of bevacizumab administration was examined by statistical analysis. Results In the case of C38 adenocarcinoma, protocol-based treatment did not result in significantly smaller tumor volume compared to the no treatment group; however, there was a significant difference between untreated mice and mice who received quasi-continuous therapy (p = 0.002). In the case of HT-29 adenocarcinoma, the daily treatment with one-twelfth total dose resulted in significantly smaller tumors than the protocol-based treatment (p = 0.038). When the tumor has a symmetrical, solid closed shape (typically without treatment), volume can be evaluated accurately from caliper-measured data with the applied two-dimensional mathematical model. Conclusion Our results provide a theoretical background for a much more effective bevacizumab treatment using optimized administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Sápi
- Research and Innovation Center of Obuda University, Physiological Controls Group, Obuda University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Levente Kovács
- Research and Innovation Center of Obuda University, Physiological Controls Group, Obuda University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dániel András Drexler
- Department of Control Engineering and Information Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pál Kocsis
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Gajári
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Sápi
- 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail:
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Hegedűs N, Laszy J, Gyertyán I, Kocsis P, Gajári D, Dávid S, Deli L, Pozsgay Z, Tihanyi K. Scopolamine provocation-based pharmacological MRI model for testing procognitive agents. J Psychopharmacol 2015; 29:447-55. [PMID: 25586394 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114565652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
There is a huge unmet need to understand and treat pathological cognitive impairment. The development of disease modifying cognitive enhancers is hindered by the lack of correct pathomechanism and suitable animal models. Most animal models to study cognition and pathology do not fulfil either the predictive validity, face validity or construct validity criteria, and also outcome measures greatly differ from those of human trials. Fortunately, some pharmacological agents such as scopolamine evoke similar effects on cognition and cerebral circulation in rodents and humans and functional MRI enables us to compare cognitive agents directly in different species. In this paper we report the validation of a scopolamine based rodent pharmacological MRI provocation model. The effects of deemed procognitive agents (donepezil, vinpocetine, piracetam, alpha 7 selective cholinergic compounds EVP-6124, PNU-120596) were compared on the blood-oxygen-level dependent responses and also linked to rodent cognitive models. These drugs revealed significant effect on scopolamine induced blood-oxygen-level dependent change except for piracetam. In the water labyrinth test only PNU-120596 did not show a significant effect. This provocational model is suitable for testing procognitive compounds. These functional MR imaging experiments can be paralleled with human studies, which may help reduce the number of false cognitive clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolett Hegedűs
- Preclinical Imaging Centre, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Laszy
- Department of Behavioural Pharmacology, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Gyertyán
- Department of Behavioural Pharmacology, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pál Kocsis
- Preclinical Imaging Centre, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Gajári
- Preclinical Imaging Centre, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Dávid
- Preclinical Imaging Centre, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Levente Deli
- Preclinical Imaging Centre, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Pozsgay
- Preclinical Imaging Centre, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Károly Tihanyi
- Preclinical Imaging Centre, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
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Sárvári M, Deli L, Kocsis P, Márk L, Maász G, Hrabovszky E, Kalló I, Gajári D, Vastagh C, Sümegi B, Tihanyi K, Liposits Z. Estradiol and isotype-selective estrogen receptor agonists modulate the mesocortical dopaminergic system in gonadectomized female rats. Brain Res 2014; 1583:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Sárvári M, Kocsis P, Deli L, Gajári D, Dávid S, Pozsgay Z, Hegedűs N, Tihanyi K, Liposits Z. Ghrelin modulates the fMRI BOLD response of homeostatic and hedonic brain centers regulating energy balance in the rat. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97651. [PMID: 24830778 PMCID: PMC4022590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The orexigenic gut-brain peptide, ghrelin and its G-protein coupled receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1A) are pivotal regulators of hypothalamic feeding centers and reward processing neuronal circuits of the brain. These systems operate in a cooperative manner and receive a wide array of neuronal hormone/transmitter messages and metabolic signals. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was employed in the current study to map BOLD responses to ghrelin in different brain regions with special reference on homeostatic and hedonic regulatory centers of energy balance. Experimental groups involved male, ovariectomized female and ovariectomized estradiol-replaced rats. Putative modulation of ghrelin signaling by endocannabinoids was also studied. Ghrelin-evoked effects were calculated as mean of the BOLD responses 30 minutes after administration. In the male rat, ghrelin evoked a slowly decreasing BOLD response in all studied regions of interest (ROI) within the limbic system. This effect was antagonized by pretreatment with GHS-R1A antagonist JMV2959. The comparison of ghrelin effects in the presence or absence of JMV2959 in individual ROIs revealed significant changes in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens of the telencephalon, and also within hypothalamic centers like the lateral hypothalamus, ventromedial nucleus, paraventricular nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus. In the female rat, the ghrelin effects were almost identical to those observed in males. Ovariectomy and chronic estradiol replacement had no effect on the BOLD response. Inhibition of the endocannabinoid signaling by rimonabant significantly attenuated the response of the nucleus accumbens and septum. In summary, ghrelin can modulate hypothalamic and mesolimbic structures controlling energy balance in both sexes. The endocannabinoid signaling system contributes to the manifestation of ghrelin's BOLD effect in a region specific manner. In females, the estradiol milieu does not influence the BOLD response to ghrelin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklós Sárvári
- Laboratory of Endocrine Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail:
| | - Pál Kocsis
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Levente Deli
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Gajári
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Dávid
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Pozsgay
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Hegedűs
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Károly Tihanyi
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Liposits
- Laboratory of Endocrine Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Information Technology, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
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Kocsis P, Gajári D, Deli L, Gőcze KZ, Pozsgay Z, Tihanyi K. Effect of tolperisone on the resting brain and on evoked responses, an phMRI BOLD study. Brain Res Bull 2013; 99:34-40. [PMID: 24099980 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2013.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Revised: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Tolperisone is a voltage gated sodium channel blocker, centrally acting muscle relaxant drug, with a very advantageous side effect profile. Like other sodium channel blockers, it has weak affinity to the resting state and high affinity to the open/inactivated state of the channel. In this paper, its effect on BOLD responses in rat brain were elucidated both on the resting brain and paw stimulation evoked BOLD responses. Tolperisone did not exert any visible effect on resting brain, but strongly inhibited the paw stimulation evoked BOLD responses, showing somewhat higher efficacy in brain areas involved in pain sensation. This finding is in a good agreement with its sodium channel blocking profile. In the resting brain, most of the channels are in resting state. Electric train stimuli of the paw results in over activated neurons, where most sodium channels are in open or inactivated state. These data suggest that the very advantageous profile of tolperisone can be explained by its selective action on open or inactivated sodium channels of over-activated neurons in various brain regions rather than by a selective effect in the spinal cord as suggested previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pál Kocsis
- Preclinical Imaging Center, Gedeon Richter Ltd., POB: 27, Budapest 10, H-1475, Hungary.
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