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Bali ZK, Nagy LV, Bruszt N, Bodó K, Engelmann P, Hernádi Z, Göntér K, Tadepalli SA, Hernádi I. Increased brain cytokine level associated impairment of vigilance and memory in aged rats can be alleviated by alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist treatment. GeroScience 2024; 46:645-664. [PMID: 37994990 PMCID: PMC10828177 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-01019-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related neurocognitive disorders are common problems in developed societies. Aging not only affects memory processes, but may also disturb attention, vigilance, and other executive functions. In the present study, we aimed to investigate age-related cognitive deficits in rats and associated molecular alterations in the brain. We also aimed to test the effects of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist PHA-543613 on memory as well as on the sustained attention and vigilance of aged rats. Short- and long-term spatial memories of the rats were tested using the Morris water maze (MWM) task. To measure attention and vigilance, we designed a rat version of the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) that is frequently used in human clinical examinations. At the end of the behavioral experiments, mRNA and protein expression of alpha7 nAChRs, cytokines, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were quantitatively measured in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, striatum, and cerebellum. Aged rats showed marked cognitive deficits in both the MWM and the PVT. The deficit was accompanied by increased IL-1beta and TNFalpha mRNA expression and decreased BDNF protein expression in the hippocampus. PHA-543613 significantly improved the reaction time of aged rats in the PVT, especially for unexpectedly appearing stimuli, while only slightly (non-significantly) alleviating spatial memory deficits in the MWM. These results indicate that targeting alpha7 nAChRs may be an effective strategy for the amelioration of attention and vigilance deficits in age-related neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Kristóf Bali
- Grastyán Endre Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Lili Veronika Nagy
- Grastyán Endre Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nóra Bruszt
- Grastyán Endre Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kornélia Bodó
- Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- National Laboratory of Virology, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Engelmann
- Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Hernádi
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kitti Göntér
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Sai Ambika Tadepalli
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - István Hernádi
- Grastyán Endre Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Bali ZK, Bruszt N, Kőszegi Z, Nagy LV, Atlasz T, Kovács P, Csupor D, Csupor-Löffler B, Hernádi I. Aconitum Alkaloid Songorine Exerts Potent Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid-A Receptor Agonist Action In Vivo and Effectively Decreases Anxiety without Adverse Sedative or Psychomotor Effects in the Rat. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102067. [PMID: 36297502 PMCID: PMC9610616 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Songorine (SON) is a diterpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum plants. Preparations of Aconitum roots have been employed in traditional oriental herbal medicine, however, their mechanisms of action are still unclear. Since GABA-receptors are possible brain targets of SON, we investigated which subtypes of GABA-receptors contribute to the effects of SON, and how SON affects anxiety-like trait behavior and psychomotor cognitive performance of rats. First, we investigated the effects of microiontophoretically applied SON alone and combined with GABA-receptor agents picrotoxin and saclofen on neuronal firing activity in various brain areas. Next, putative anxiolytic effects of SON (1.0–3.0 mg/kg) were tested against the GABA-receptor positive allosteric modulator reference compound diazepam (1.0–5.0 mg/kg) in the elevated zero maze (EOM). Furthermore, basic cognitive effects were assessed in a rodent version of the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). Local application of SON predominantly inhibited the firing activity of neurons. This inhibitory effect of SON was successfully blocked by GABA(A)-receptor antagonist picrotoxin but not by GABA(B)-receptor antagonist saclofen. Similar to GABA(A)-receptor positive allosteric modulator diazepam, SON increased the time spent by animals in the open quadrants of the EOM without any signs of adverse psychomotor and cognitive effects observed in the PVT. We showed that, under in vivo conditions, SON acts as a potent GABA(A)-receptor agonist and effectively decreases anxiety without observable side effects. The present findings facilitate the deeper understanding of the mechanism of action and the widespread pharmacological use of diterpene alkaloids in various CNS indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Kristóf Bali
- Grastyán Endre Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nóra Bruszt
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 12 Szigeti Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsombor Kőszegi
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Lili Veronika Nagy
- Grastyán Endre Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Atlasz
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Kovács
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dezső Csupor
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, 6 Eötvös Str., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, 12 Szigeti Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Szeged, 8 Szikra Str., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Boglárka Csupor-Löffler
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, 12 Szigeti Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - István Hernádi
- Grastyán Endre Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 12 Szigeti Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság Str., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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Bruszt N, Bali ZK, Tadepalli SA, Nagy LV, Hernádi I. Potentiation of cognitive enhancer effects of Alzheimer's disease medication memantine by alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist PHA-543613 in the Morris water maze task. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3273-3281. [PMID: 34387707 PMCID: PMC8605977 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05942-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE There are controversial pieces of evidence whether combination therapies using memantine and cholinesterase inhibitors are beneficial over their monotreatments. However, results of preclinical studies are promising when memantine is combined with agonists and allosteric modulators of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). OBJECTIVES Here, we tested the hypothesis that cognitive enhancer effects of memantine can be potentiated through modulating alpha7 nAChRs in a scopolamine-induced amnesia model. METHODS Monotreatments, as well as co-administrations of selective alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist PHA-543613 and memantine were tested in the Morris water maze task in rats. The efficacy of the co-administration treatment was observed on different domains of spatial episodic memory. RESULTS Low dose of memantine (0.1 mg/kg) and PHA-543613 (0.3 mg/kg) successfully reversed scopolamine-induced short-term memory deficits both in monotreatments and in co-administration. When recall of information from long-term memory was tested, pharmacological effects caused by co-administration of subeffective doses of memantine and PHA-543613 exceeded that of their monotreatments. CONCLUSION Our results further support the evidence of beneficial interactions between memantine and alpha7 nAChR ligands and suggest a prominent role of alpha7 nAChRs in the procognitive effects of memantine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nóra Bruszt
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 12 Szigeti str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Kristóf Bali
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság str, 7624, Pécs, Hungary. .,Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 12 Szigeti str, 7624, Pécs, Hungary. .,Grastyán Endre Translational Research Center, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság str, 7624, Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Sai Ambika Tadepalli
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Lili Veronika Nagy
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - István Hernádi
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, 20 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, 12 Szigeti str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,Grastyán Endre Translational Research Center, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary ,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 6 Ifjúság str, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
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Nagy SA, Vranesics A, Varga Z, Csabai D, Bruszt N, Bali ZK, Perlaki G, Hernádi I, Berente Z, Miseta A, Dóczi T, Czéh B. Stress-Induced Microstructural Alterations Correlate With the Cognitive Performance of Rats: A Longitudinal in vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:474. [PMID: 32581670 PMCID: PMC7283577 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Stress-induced cellular changes in limbic brain structures contribute to the development of various psychopathologies. In vivo detection of these microstructural changes may help us to develop objective biomarkers for psychiatric disorders. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an advanced neuroimaging technique that enables the non-invasive examination of white matter integrity and provides insights into the microstructure of pathways connecting brain areas. Objective: Our aim was to examine the temporal dynamics of stress-induced structural changes with repeated in vivo DTI scans and correlate them with behavioral alterations. Methods: Out of 32 young adult male rats, 16 were exposed to daily immobilization stress for 3 weeks. Four DTI measurements were done: one before the stress exposure (baseline), two scans during the stress (acute and chronic phases), and a last one 2 weeks after the end of the stress protocol (recovery). We used a 4.7T small-animal MRI system and examined 18 gray and white matter structures calculating the following parameters: fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD). T2-weighted images were used for volumetry. Cognitive performance and anxiety levels of the animals were assessed in the Morris water maze, novel object recognition, open field, and elevated plus maze tests. Results: Reduced FA and increased MD and RD values were found in the corpus callosum and external capsule of stressed rats. Stress increased RD in the anterior commissure and reduced MD and RD in the amygdala. We observed time-dependent changes in several DTI parameters as the rats matured, but we found no evidence of stress-induced volumetric alterations in the brains. Stressed rats displayed cognitive impairments and we found numerous correlations between the cognitive performance of the animals and between various DTI metrics of the inferior colliculus, corpus callosum, anterior commissure, and amygdala. Conclusions: Our data provide further support to the translational value of DTI studies and suggest that chronic stress exposure results in similar white matter microstructural alterations that have been documented in stress-related psychiatric disorders. These DTI findings imply microstructural abnormalities in the brain, which may underlie the cognitive deficits that are often present in stress-related mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szilvia Anett Nagy
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,MTA-PTE, Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Pécs Diagnostic Centre, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Anett Vranesics
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Research Group for Experimental Diagnostic Imaging, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Varga
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dávid Csabai
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nóra Bruszt
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Kristóf Bali
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Grastyán Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Perlaki
- MTA-PTE, Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Pécs Diagnostic Centre, Pécs, Hungary
| | - István Hernádi
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Centre for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Grastyán Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Berente
- Research Group for Experimental Diagnostic Imaging, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Attila Miseta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Dóczi
- MTA-PTE, Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Pécs Diagnostic Centre, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Boldizsár Czéh
- Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Tadepalli SA, Bali ZK, Bruszt N, Nagy LV, Amrein K, Fazekas B, Büki A, Czeiter E, Hernádi I. Long-term cognitive impairment without diffuse axonal injury following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in rats. Behav Brain Res 2019; 378:112268. [PMID: 31580914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) impair cognitive abilities and increase risk of neurodegenerative disorders in humans. We developed two repetitive mild TBI models in rats with different time intervals between successive weight-drop injuries. Rats were subjected to repetitive Sham (no injury), single mild (mTBI), repetitive mild (rmTBI - 5 hits, 24 h apart), rapid repetitive mild (rapTBI - 5 hits, 5 min apart) or a single severe (sTBI) TBI. Cognitive performance was assessed 2 and 8 weeks after TBI in the novel object recognition test (NOR), and 6-7 weeks after TBI in the water maze (MWM). Acute immunohistochemical markers were evaluated 24 h after TBI, and blood biomarkers were measured with ELISA 8 weeks after TBI. In the NOR, both rmTBI and rapTBI showed poor performance at 2 weeks post-injury. At 8 weeks post-injury, the rmTBI group still performed worse than the Sham and mTBI groups, while the rapTBI group recovered. In the MWM, the rapTBI group performed worse than the Sham and mTBI groups. Acute APP and RMO-14 immunohistochemistry showed axonal injury at the pontomedullary junction in the sTBI, but not in other groups. ELISA showed increased serum GFAP levels 8 weeks after sTBI, while no differences were found between the injury groups in the levels of phosphorylated-tau and S100β. Results suggest that the rmTBI protocol is the most suitable model for testing cognitive impairment after mild repetitive head injuries and that the prolonged cognitive impairment after repetitive mild TBI originates from different structural and molecular mechanisms compared to similar impairments after single sTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Ambika Tadepalli
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Kristóf Bali
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Grastyán Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.
| | - Nóra Bruszt
- Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs Hungary
| | - Lili Veronika Nagy
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Amrein
- Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Rét u. 2, H-7623 Pécs, Hungary; Neurotrauma Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Bálint Fazekas
- Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Rét u. 2, H-7623 Pécs, Hungary; Neurotrauma Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - András Büki
- Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Rét u. 2, H-7623 Pécs, Hungary; Neurotrauma Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Endre Czeiter
- Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, Rét u. 2, H-7623 Pécs, Hungary; Neurotrauma Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; MTA-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, Rét u. 2, H-7623 Pécs, Hungary
| | - István Hernádi
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Translational Neuroscience Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Center for Neuroscience, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Grastyán Translational Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs Hungary
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Bali ZK, Bruszt N, Tadepalli SA, Csurgyók R, Nagy LV, Tompa M, Hernádi I. Cognitive Enhancer Effects of Low Memantine Doses Are Facilitated by an Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist in Scopolamine-Induced Amnesia in Rats. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:73. [PMID: 30804787 PMCID: PMC6371842 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in learning and memory and are promising targets for pharmacological cognitive enhancement. Memantine, an approved substance for Alzheimer's disease treatment, is an antagonist of the N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and also acts as an alpha7 nAChR antagonist. Here, we tested the interaction between an alpha7 nAChR agonist (PHA-543613) and memantine. Efficacy of memantine, PHA-543613, and their co-administration were investigated on the spatial working memory of rats using the spontaneous alternation paradigm in T-maze. Scopolamine-induced transient amnesia was used to model cognitive impairment. First, the dose-response relationship was assessed for memantine, and its lowest effective dose was found to be 0.1 mg/kg. Then, co-administration treatments with subeffective doses of the alpha7 nAChR agonist PHA-543613 and different doses of memantine were tested. The co-administration of subeffective drug doses significantly improved memory performance of the rats and reversed scopolamine-induced deficits. Interestingly, a higher than effective (0.3 mg/kg) dose of memantine did not increase performance in monotreatment, only in co-administration with PHA-543613. However, the co-administration of PHA-543613 did not further increase the efficacy of the previously effective monotreatment doses of memantine. Thus, the efficacy of memantine monotreatment and its co-administration with PHA-543613 converged to create a common ceiling effect, with an additive interaction found in the behavioral effects. These results suggest that memantine and PHA-543613 may exert their cognitive enhancer effects on the same target, possibly on the alpha7 nAChRs. Results also suggest possible benefits of a combination therapy with memantine and alpha7 nAChR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Kristóf Bali
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nóra Bruszt
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Sai Ambika Tadepalli
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Roland Csurgyók
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Lili Veronika Nagy
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Márton Tompa
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - István Hernádi
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- János Szentágothai Research Center, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Bali ZK, Inkeller J, Csurgyók R, Bruszt N, Horváth H, Hernádi I. Differential effects of α7 nicotinic receptor agonist PHA-543613 on spatial memory performance of rats in two distinct pharmacological dementia models. Behav Brain Res 2015; 278:404-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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