Prenatal exposure to fluoxetine modulates emotionality and aversive memory in male and female rat offspring
In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fluoxetine exposure (10 mg/kg/day) from the 13th gestational day (GD13) to GD21 may lead to behavioral emotional-cognitive changes in male and female rat offspring approximately 90 days postnatally (~PN90). We have analyzed the performance of individuals in the open field and in the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task, which assesses anxiety and learning/memory processing behaviors. We have found that prenatal (GD13–GD21) exposure to fluoxetine strengthened aversive memory and induced higher anxiety levels in males, and quick extinction of aversive memory in females. T...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 18, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Preclinical comparison of antinociceptive effects between ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, and acetaminophen on acid-stimulated body stretching and acid-depressed feeding behaviors in rats
In conclusion, feeding behavior provides a good appraisal for pain and analgesic drugs in preclinical studies. There were comparable efficacies between all tested medications in both lactic acid-stimulated body stretching and -depressed feeding behaviors. (Source: Behavioural Pharmacology)
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 18, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

The effects of citalopram, SB-334867 and orexin-1, alone or in various combinations, on the anxiogenic-like effects of REM sleep deprivation in male mice
Sleep deprivation may induce anxiety. On the other hand, anxiety disorders elicit main changes in the quality of sleep. Moreover, orexin and citalopram play a role in the modulation of insomnia and mood diseases. Thus, we planned preclinical research to evaluate the effect of combinations of orexin agents and citalopram on anxiety behavior in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-deprived mice. For drug intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion, the guide cannula was surgically implanted in the left lateral ventricle of mice. REM sleep deprivation was conducted via water tank apparatus for 24 h. The anxiety behavior of mice was...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 18, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2–associated changes in pharmacokinetics, locomotor function and peripheral glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels during acute alcohol intoxication in male mice
In this study, ALDH2*2 mice were used to build an acute alcohol intoxication model after intraperitoneal administration. The blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations were analyzed to generate concentration-time curves at two doses of alcohol (2.0 and 4.0 g/kg). The dose of 4.0 g/kg was selected in accordance with the preliminary behavioral evaluation result to perform the following behavioral tests (e.g. the rotarod test, the open field test, and the Y-maze test), so as to assess locomotor activity, anxiety and cognitive ability. Plasma Glu and GABA levels were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Th...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 18, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Long-term follow-up of intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin-inducing pain sensitization
Age is known to be the major risk factor for both pain sensation and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (sAD). Pain management in AD is a critical health condition. However, assessing pain in sAD patients is challenging. The intracerebroventricularly injected streptozotocin (icv-STZ) rat model of sAD has been brought to the fore as a hopefully suitable model that could mimic some features of sAD. However, the exact mechanism by which this agent may induce AD-like pathology is largely unknown. In some studies, analgesic drugs have been suggested as possible prevention of AD and icv-STZ-induced AD-like pathology. Therefore, this...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 18, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Dual effects of anandamide in the antiepileptic activity of diazepam in pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice
This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of high and low doses of anandamide on the anticonvulsant action of diazepam on the subcutaneous dose of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in Swiss mice weighing 20–25 g. Results revealed that intracerebroventricular administration of capsazepine (a TRPV1 antagonist: 1, 10, or 100 µg/mouse) and the low doses (10 µg/mouse) of anandamide, AM404 (anandamide transport inhibitor), or URB597 (fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor) augmented the anticonvulsant effect of diazepam. Conversely, higher dose of anandamide, AM404, URB597 (100 µg/mouse) as well as capsaicin (a TRPV1 agon...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 18, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Fenofibrate promotes neuroprotection in a model of rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease
In this study, we aimed to (1) confirm the neuroprotective effects of PPAR-alpha agonist fenofibrate. To this end, male rats received fenofibrate (100 mg/kg) orally for 15 days, 5 days before the intraperitoneal injections of rotenone (2.5 mg/kg for 10 days). After finishing the treatment with rotenone and fenofibrate, animals were subjected to the open field, the forced swim test and the two-way active avoidance task. Subsequently, rats were euthanized for measurement of dopamine and metabolites levels in the striatum and quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the substantia nigra pars comp...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 18, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Astaxanthin ameliorates serum level and spinal expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor following spinal cord injury
Astaxanthin (AST) is a lipid-soluble carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Previous reports demonstrated the promising effects of AST on spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced inflammation and sensory-motor dysfunction. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), as a cytokine, plays a critical role in the inflammatory phase of SCI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of AST on post-SCI levels of MIF in serum and spinal cord. The possible correlation between MIF and mechanical pain threshold was also assessed. Adult male rats were subjected to a severe compression spinal injury and 30 min ...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - October 1, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

The modulatory role of dopamine receptors within the hippocampal cornu ammonis area 1 in stress-induced analgesia in an animal model of persistent inflammatory pain
This study provides new insight into the role of D1- and D2-like dopamine receptors in the CA1 area in the FSS-induced analgesia during persistent inflammatory pain. (Source: Behavioural Pharmacology)
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - October 1, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Relapse to cotinine seeking in rats: differential effects of sex
Relapse is a defining feature of smoking and a significant challenge in cessation management. Elucidation of novel factors underlying relapse may inform future treatments. Cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, has been shown to support intravenous self-administration in rats, implicating it as one potential factor contributing to nicotine reinforcement. However, it remains unknown whether cotinine would induce relapse-like behaviors. The current study investigated relapse to cotinine seeking in two relapse models, the reinstatement of drug seeking and incubation of drug craving models. In the reinstatement model, rat...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - October 1, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

The effects of curcumin in learning and memory impairment associated with hypothyroidism in juvenile rats: the role of nitric oxide, oxidative stress, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor
The effect of curcumin (Cur) on cognitive impairment and the possible role of brain tissue oxidative stress, nitric oxide (NO) levels, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were investigated in juvenile hypothyroid rats. The juvenile rats (21 days old) were allocated into the following groups: (1) control; (2) hypothyroid (0.05% propylthiouracil (PTU) in drinking water); (3–5) hypothyroid-Cur 50, 100, and 150, which in these groups 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg, Cur was orally administered by gavage during 6 weeks. In the hypothyroid rats, the time elapsed and the traveled distance to locate the hidden platform in the lea...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - October 1, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Involvement of GABAA receptors of lateral habenula in the acquisition and expression phases of morphine-induced place preference in male rats
In this study, the effect of bilateral intra-LHb microinjection of GABAAR agonist and antagonist on the acquisition and expression phases of CPP, utilizing a 5-day CPP paradigm in male rats, was evaluated. Subcutaneous administration of different doses of morphine caused a dose-dependent CPP. Intra-LHb microinjection of the GABAAR agonist, muscimol, in combination with morphine (5 mg/kg; subcutaneously) enhanced CPP scores in the acquisition phase of morphine CPP, whereas the GABAAR antagonist, bicuculline, significantly reduced the conditioning scores in the acquisition phase. Furthermore, pretreatment with a high dose of...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - October 1, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

GPR171 activation regulates morphine tolerance but not withdrawal in a test-dependent manner in mice
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of combination treatment in females as well as whether chronic treatment can be used without exacerbating morphine-induced tolerance and withdrawal in female and male mice. Our results demonstrate that activation of GPR171 with an agonist attenuates morphine tolerance in both female and male mice on the tail-flick test, but not the hotplate test. Importantly, the GPR171 agonist in combination with morphine does not exacerbate morphine-induced tolerance and withdrawal during long-term morphine treatment. Taken together, these data suggest that the GPR171 agonist may be...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - October 1, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Effort-based decision making in response to high-dose androgens: role of dopamine receptors
Introduction Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are performance-enhancing drugs used by both world-class and rank-and-file athletes. AAS abuse has been linked with risky decision-making, ranging from drunk driving to abusing multiple drugs. Our lab uses operant behavior in rats to test the effects of AAS (testosterone) on decision making. In our previous study, testosterone caused rats to work harder for food reward during an effort discounting (ED) task. ED is sensitive to dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, and AAS alter accumbens dopamine receptor expression. Accordingly, we determined if testosterone increases respo...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - October 1, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

The discriminative stimulus effects of baclofen and gamma hydroxybutyrate in C57BL/6J mice
We examined whether separate groups of mice could be trained to discriminate either baclofen or GHB, and the contribution of GABAB receptors to discriminative stimulus effects. Male C57BL/6J mice were trained to discriminate either baclofen (3.2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or GHB (178 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) from saline under a fixed-ratio 10 schedule. The GABAB antagonist 3-aminopropyl(diethoxymethyl)phosphinic acid (CGP 35348) was used to pharmacologically assess GABAB receptor involvement. The selectivity of the resulting discriminations was assessed with the opioid agonist morphine and the benzodiazepine midazolam. In bacl...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 17, 2022 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short Report Source Type: research