RESUMO
Despite recent advances, current antidepressants have considerable limitations: late onset of action and the high profile of refractoriness. Biomedical research with natural products has gained growing interest in the last years, and had provide useful candidates for new antidepressants. Riparins are a group of natural alkamides obtained from Aniba riparia, which had marked neuroactive effects, mainly as antidepressant and antinociceptive agents. We made modifications of the basic structure of riparins, originating a synthetic alkamide, also known as riparin IV (RipIV). RipIV demonstrated a superior analgesic effect than its congeners and a marked antidepressant-like effect. However, the basic mechanism for the central effects of RipIV remains unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the participation of monoaminergic neurotransmission targets in the antidepressant-like effects of RipIV. To do this, we applied a combined approach of experimental (classical pharmacology and neurochemistry) and computer-aided techniques. Our results demonstrated that RipIV presented antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects without modifying locomotion and motor coordination of mice. Also, RipIV increased brain monoamines and their metabolite levels. At the higher dose (100â¯mg/kg), RipIV increased serotonin concentrations in all studied brain areas, while at the lower one (50â¯mg/kg), it increased mainly dopamine and noradrenaline levels. When tested with selective receptor antagonists, RipIV antidepressant effect showed dependence of the activation of multiple targets, including D1 and D2 dopamine receptors, 5-HT2A/2, 5-HT3 receptors and α2 adrenergic receptors. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable binding conformation and affinity of RipIV to monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), serotonin transporter (SERT), α1 receptor, D2 receptor, dopamine transporter (DAT) and at some extent GABA-A receptor. RipIV also presented a computationally predicted favorable pharmacokinetic profile. Therefore, this study demonstrated the involvement of monoaminergic targets in the mechanism of RipIV antidepressant-like action, and provide evidence of it as a promising new antidepressant.
Assuntos
Ansiolíticos/farmacologia , Antidepressivos/farmacologia , Monoaminoxidase/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores Adrenérgicos alfa 2/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores Dopaminérgicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de Serotonina/efeitos dos fármacos , Tiramina/análogos & derivados , Animais , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Bupropiona/farmacologia , Dopamina/metabolismo , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Dopamina/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Dopamina/metabolismo , Fluoxetina/farmacologia , Imipramina/farmacologia , Camundongos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Monoaminoxidase/metabolismo , Norepinefrina/metabolismo , Receptor 5-HT2A de Serotonina/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptor 5-HT2A de Serotonina/metabolismo , Receptores Adrenérgicos alfa 2/metabolismo , Receptores Dopaminérgicos/metabolismo , Receptores de Dopamina D1 , Receptores de Dopamina D2 , Receptores de GABA-A/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de GABA-A/metabolismo , Receptores de Serotonina/metabolismo , Receptores 5-HT2 de Serotonina/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores 5-HT2 de Serotonina/metabolismo , Receptores 5-HT3 de Serotonina/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores 5-HT3 de Serotonina/metabolismo , Serotonina/metabolismo , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Serotonina/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Serotonina/metabolismo , Tiramina/farmacologiaRESUMO
Hoodia gordonii is a plant species used traditionally in southern Africa to suppress appetite. Recently, it has been associated with a significant increase in blood pressure and pulse rate in women, suggesting sympathomimetic activity. The present study investigated the possible antidepressant-like effects of acute and repeated (15 days) administration of H. gordonii extract (25 and 50 mg/kg, po) to mice exposed to a forced swimming test (FST). Neurochemical analysis of brain monoamines was also carried out to determine the involvement of the monoaminergic system on these effects. Acute administration of H. gordonii decreased the immobility of mice in the FST without accompanying changes in general activity in the open-field test during acute treatment, suggesting an antidepressant-like effect. The anti-immobility effect of H. gordonii was prevented by pretreatment of mice with PCPA [an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis], NAN-190 (a 5-HT1A antagonist), ritanserin (a 5-HT2A/2C antagonist), ondansetron (a 5-HT3A antagonist), prazosin (an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), SCH23390 (a D1 receptor antagonist), yohimbine (an α2-adrenoceptor antagonist), and sulpiride (a D2 receptor antagonist). A significant increase in 5-HT levels in the striatum was detected after acute administration, while 5-HT, norepinephrine and dopamine were significantly elevated after chronic treatment. Results indicated that H. gordonii possesses antidepressant-like activity in the FST by altering the dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic systems.
RESUMO
Hoodia gordonii is a plant species used traditionally in southern Africa to suppress appetite. Recently, it has been associated with a significant increase in blood pressure and pulse rate in women, suggesting sympathomimetic activity. The present study investigated the possible antidepressant-like effects of acute and repeated (15 days) administration of H. gordonii extract (25 and 50 mg/kg, po) to mice exposed to a forced swimming test (FST). Neurochemical analysis of brain monoamines was also carried out to determine the involvement of the monoaminergic system on these effects. Acute administration of H. gordonii decreased the immobility of mice in the FST without accompanying changes in general activity in the open-field test during acute treatment, suggesting an antidepressant-like effect. The anti-immobility effect of H. gordonii was prevented by pretreatment of mice with PCPA [an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis], NAN-190 (a 5-HT1A antagonist), ritanserin (a 5-HT2A/2C antagonist), ondansetron (a 5-HT3A antagonist), prazosin (an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), SCH23390 (a D1 receptor antagonist), yohimbine (an α2-adrenoceptor antagonist), and sulpiride (a D2 receptor antagonist). A significant increase in 5-HT levels in the striatum was detected after acute administration, while 5-HT, norepinephrine and dopamine were significantly elevated after chronic treatment. Results indicated that H. gordonii possesses antidepressant-like activity in the FST by altering the dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic systems.
RESUMO
Inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress underlie depression being assessed in rodents by the systemic administration of lipopolysacharide (LPS). There is an increasing body of evidence of an involvement of nitric oxide (NO) pathway in depression, but this issue was not investigated in LPS-induced model. Thus, herein we evaluated the effects of NO-pathway-modulating drugs, named aminoguanidine, l-NAME, sildenafil and l-arginine, on the behavioral (forced swimming test [FST], sucrose preference [SPT] and prepulse inhibition [PPI] of the startle) and neurochemical (glutathione [GSH], lipid peroxidation, IL-1ß) alterations in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum as well as in BDNF levels in the hippocampus 24h after LPS (0.5mg/kg, i.p.) administration, a time-point related to depressive-like behavior. Twenty-four hours post LPS there was an increase in immobility time in the FST, decrease in sucrose preference and PPI levels accompanied by a decrease in GSH levels and an increase in lipid peroxidation, IL-1ß and hippocampal BDNF levels suggestive of a depressive-like state. The pretreatment with the NOS inhibitors, l-NAME and aminoguanidine as well as sildenafil prevented the behavioral and neurochemical alterations induced by LPS, although sildenafil and l-NAME were not able to prevent the increase in hippocampal BDNF levels induced by LPS. The iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine, and imipramine prevented all behavioral and neurochemical alterations induced by LPS. l-arginine did not prevent the alterations in immobility time, sucrose preference and GSH induced by LPS. Taken together our results show that the NO-cGMP pathway is important in the modulation of the depressive-like alterations induced by LPS.
Assuntos
Antidepressivos/farmacologia , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Transtorno Depressivo/tratamento farmacológico , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Piperazinas/farmacologia , Sulfonas/farmacologia , Animais , Arginina/farmacologia , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , GMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Transtorno Depressivo/metabolismo , Transtorno Depressivo/prevenção & controle , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Guanidinas/farmacologia , Imipramina/farmacologia , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Lipopolissacarídeos , Masculino , Camundongos , NG-Nitroarginina Metil Éster/farmacologia , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/antagonistas & inibidores , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Purinas/farmacologia , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Citrato de SildenafilaRESUMO
Prenatal immune challenge (PIC) in pregnant rodents produces offspring with abnormalities in behavior, histology, and gene expression that are reminiscent of schizophrenia and autism. Based on this, the goal of this article was to review the main contributions of PIC models, especially the one using the viral-mimetic particle polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly-I:C), to the understanding of the etiology, biological basis and treatment of schizophrenia. This systematic review consisted of a search of available web databases (PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, PsycINFO, and ISI Web of Knowledge) for original studies published in the last 10 years (May 2001 to October 2011) concerning animal models of PIC, focusing on those using poly-I:C. The results showed that the PIC model with poly-I:C is able to mimic the prodrome and both the positive and negative/cognitive dimensions of schizophrenia, depending on the specific gestation time window of the immune challenge. The model resembles the neurobiology and etiology of schizophrenia and has good predictive value. In conclusion, this model is a robust tool for the identification of novel molecular targets during prenatal life, adolescence and adulthood that might contribute to the development of preventive and/or treatment strategies (targeting specific symptoms, i.e., positive or negative/cognitive) for this devastating mental disorder, also presenting biosafety as compared to viral infection models. One limitation of this model is the incapacity to model the full spectrum of immune responses normally induced by viral exposure.
Assuntos
Modelos Animais de Doenças , Polinucleotídeos , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/imunologia , Esquizofrenia/imunologia , Animais , Feminino , Camundongos , Gravidez , Ratos , Esquizofrenia/etiologiaRESUMO
Prenatal immune challenge (PIC) in pregnant rodents produces offspring with abnormalities in behavior, histology, and gene expression that are reminiscent of schizophrenia and autism. Based on this, the goal of this article was to review the main contributions of PIC models, especially the one using the viral-mimetic particle polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly-I:C), to the understanding of the etiology, biological basis and treatment of schizophrenia. This systematic review consisted of a search of available web databases (PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, PsycINFO, and ISI Web of Knowledge) for original studies published in the last 10 years (May 2001 to October 2011) concerning animal models of PIC, focusing on those using poly-I:C. The results showed that the PIC model with poly-I:C is able to mimic the prodrome and both the positive and negative/cognitive dimensions of schizophrenia, depending on the specific gestation time window of the immune challenge. The model resembles the neurobiology and etiology of schizophrenia and has good predictive value. In conclusion, this model is a robust tool for the identification of novel molecular targets during prenatal life, adolescence and adulthood that might contribute to the development of preventive and/or treatment strategies (targeting specific symptoms, i.e., positive or negative/cognitive) for this devastating mental disorder, also presenting biosafety as compared to viral infection models. One limitation of this model is the incapacity to model the full spectrum of immune responses normally induced by viral exposure.
Assuntos
Animais , Feminino , Camundongos , Gravidez , Ratos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Polinucleotídeos , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/imunologia , Esquizofrenia/imunologia , Esquizofrenia/etiologiaRESUMO
Justicia pectoralis (Acanthaceae) is used as an antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and bronchodilator, and its extract exerts an anxiolytic-like effect profile in animal models. This work presents the behavioral effects of an aqueous standardized extract of Justicia pectoralis (SEJP) in animal models, such as the elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark, open field, rota rod and pentobarbital sleep time. The extract was administered intragastrically to male mice at single doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, while diazepam 1 or 2 mg/kg was used as a standard drug and flumazenil 2.5 mg/kg was used to evaluate the participation of benzodiazepinic receptors. The results showed that, similar to diazepam (1 mg/kg), SEJP significantly modified all the observed parameters in the EPM test, without altering the general motor activity in the open field, rota rod and pentobarbital sleep time tests. Flumazenil reversed not only the diazepam effect but also the SEJP effect. In the same way, all doses of SEJP increased the time of permanence in the light box in the light/dark test. The results showed that SEJP presented an anxiolytic-like effect, disproving sedative effects.
Assuntos
Acanthaceae/química , Ansiolíticos/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Receptores de GABA-A/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Aprendizagem em Labirinto/efeitos dos fármacos , CamundongosRESUMO
Antiretroviral therapy has revolutionized the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus because it has improved the clinical outcomes of patients. It is essential that these drugs cross the blood-brain barrier, since the virus is present in the central nervous system (CNS). Efavirenz passes through this barrier satisfactorily and can reduce the deleterious central effects of the human immunodeficiency virus. However, patients treated with efavirenz have been observed to experience psychiatric symptoms such as mania, depression, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, and hallucinations. The aim of this review is to describe the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of efavirenz and its major neuropsychiatric symptoms and the neurochemical pathways associated with these changes in the CNS. The databases Medline and Lilacs were used to search for review articles and preclinical and clinical research articles published from January 1996 to 2010. The search terms used were efavirenz, central nervous system, neuropsychiatry, neurotransmitters, adverse effects, and neurochemistry. Subject categories considered included effects on viral replication, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of efavirenz, and neuropsychiatric adverse effects including time course, duration, and probable mechanisms involved. The mechanisms involved in these changes include interference with cytochrome P450 enzymes, cytokines, tryptophan-2-3-dioxygenase, and brain creatine kinase.
Assuntos
Complexo AIDS Demência/tratamento farmacológico , Fármacos Anti-HIV/efeitos adversos , Benzoxazinas/efeitos adversos , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Transtornos Neurocognitivos/induzido quimicamente , Alcinos , Fármacos Anti-HIV/química , Fármacos Anti-HIV/farmacocinética , Benzoxazinas/química , Benzoxazinas/farmacocinética , Encéfalo/enzimologia , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Ciclopropanos , Humanos , Transtornos Neurocognitivos/enzimologia , Transtornos Neurocognitivos/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
This study assesses the antinociceptive effect induced by different dosages of topiramate (TP), an anticonvulsant drug that is orally administered in models of neuropathic pain and acute pain in rats and mice, respectively. Orally administered TP (80 mg/Kg) in mice causes antinociception in the first and second phases of a formalin test, while in doses of 20 and 40 mg/Kg it was only effective in the second phase. TP (80 mg/Kg, p.o) also exhibited antinociceptive action in the hot plate test, however, it did not have an effect in the capsaicin test in mice, nor in the model of neuropathic pain in diabetic rats. The antinociceptive effect caused by TP (80 mg/Kg, p.o) in the formalin test was reversed by prior treatment with naloxone (opioid antagonist), but not with glibenclamide (antagonist of the potassium channel), ondansetron (antagonist of the serotonin 5HT3 receptor) or cyproheptadine (antagonist of the serotonin 5HT2A receptor).The data show that TP has an important antinociceptive effect in the models of nociception induced by chemical (formalin) or thermal (hot plate) stimuli, and that the opioid system plays a part in the antinociceptive effect, as shown by formalin.
Assuntos
Analgésicos/uso terapêutico , Neuropatias Diabéticas/tratamento farmacológico , Frutose/análogos & derivados , Dor/tratamento farmacológico , Doença Aguda , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Frutose/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Camundongos , Medição da Dor , Receptor 5-HT2A de Serotonina/fisiologia , Receptores 5-HT3 de Serotonina/fisiologia , TopiramatoRESUMO
: Oxidative stress has been implicated in a large number of human degenerative diseases, including epilepsy. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a new antiepileptic agent with broad-spectrum effects on seizures and animal models of epilepsy. Recently, it was demonstrated that the mechanism of LEV differs from that of conventional antiepileptic drugs. Objectifying to investigate if LEV mechanism of action involves antioxidant properties, lipid peroxidation levels, nitrite-nitrate formation, catalase activity, and glutathione (GSH) content were measured in adult mice brain. The neurochemical analyses were carried out in hippocampus of animals pretreated with LEV (200 mg/kg, i.p.) 60 min before pilocarpine-induced seizures (400 mg/kg, s.c.). The administration of alone pilocarpine, 400 mg/kg, s.c. (P400) produced a significant increase of lipid peroxidation level in hippocampus. LEV pretreatment was able to counteract this increase, preserving the lipid peroxidation level in normal value. P400 administration also produced increase in the nitrite-nitrate formation and catalase activity in hippocampus, beyond a decrease in GSH levels. LEV administration before P400 prevented the P400-induced alteration in nitrite-nitrate levels and preserved normal values of catalase activity in hippocampus. Moreover, LEV administration prevented the P400-induced loss of GSH in this cerebral area. The present data suggest that the protective effects of LEV against pilocarpine-induced seizures can be mediated, at least in part, by reduction of lipid peroxidation and hippocampal oxidative stress.