Current advances of pharmacological properties of 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinoline: Prevention of cognitive deficit and anxiety in Alzheimer's disease model.

This study investigated the effect of 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinoline (4-PSQ) at a dose of 1 mg/kg in memory impairment and anxiety in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) model induced by amyloid ß-peptide (Aß) (fragment 25-35) in mice. The involvement of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and lipid peroxidation in hippocampus and cerebral cortex was evaluated. Male Swiss mice were pretreated with 4-PSQ (1 mg/kg, intragastrically (i.g.), daily) for fourteen days. Thirty minutes after the first treatment with 4-PSQ, the animals received a single injection of Aß (3 nmol/3 µl/per site, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)). Mice were submitted to the behavioral tasks (open-field, elevated plus maze, Barnes maze, object recognition and location, and step-down inhibitory avoidance tests) from the fifth day onwards. On the fifteenth day, blood was removed for analysis of biochemical markers (glucose, triglycerides, urea, aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotrasferases), and cerebral cortex and hippocampus for determination of AChE activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels. Aß caused memory impairment, anxiogenic behavior, increased AChE activity in the cerebral structures and TBARS levels in the cerebral cortex. 4-PSQ was effective to protect against behavioral changes, AChE activity and TBARS levels. In conclusion, 4-PSQ protected against learning and memory impairment and anxiety in a mouse model of AD induced by Aß, and anticholinesterase and antioxidant actions are involved in the pharmacological effect of the compound.

Organoselenium group is critical for antioxidant activity of 7-chloro-4-phenylselenyl-quinoline.

The quinolone compounds have been reported for many biological properties, especially as potent antioxidants. This study investigated the antioxidant effect of 7-chloro-4-phenylselenyl-quinoline (PSQ), a quinolone derivative with organoselenium group, against oxidative stress induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in brains of mice. A second objective was to verify the importance of phenylselenyl group presents at position 4 of the quinoline structure to antioxidant effect of compound. So, it was compared the antioxidant effect of PSQ with a quinoline without organoseleniun group (7-chloroquinoline [QN]). Swiss mice were used and received SNP (0.335 µmol/site, intracerebroventricular) 30 min after treatment with PSQ or QN, at the doses of 50 mg/kg (intragastrically). After 1 h, animals were sacrificed and the brains were removed to biochemistry analysis. Thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), protein carbonyl (PC) and non-protein thiol (NPSH) levels, as well as catalase (CAT), glutathione S transferase (GST) and δ -aminolevulinic acid (δ-ALA-D) activities were determined. SNP increased TBARS and PC levels, and reduced the enzymatic (CAT and GST activity) and non-enzymatic (NPSH levels) antioxidant defenses and inhibited the δ-ALA-D activity. PSQ avoided the increase in the lipid peroxidation and PC levels, as well as the decrease in the NPSH levels, CAT, GST and δ-ALA-D activities QN partially avoided the increase in lipid peroxidation, but it not protected against alterations induced by SNP. In conclusion, phenylselenyl group present in quinoline structure is critical for antioxidant activity of PSQ.

Aging exacerbates cognitive and anxiety alterations induced by an intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid-ß1-42 peptide in mice.

An increasing body of evidence indicates that the activation of indoleamine-2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO), a first and rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine (KYN) pathway, is involved in Aß1-42-neurotoxicity and AD pathogenesis. We have reported for the first time that brain IDO activation is related to Aß1-42 exposure in young mice. Because aging is characterized by a brain dyshomeostasis and because it remains the most dominant risk factor for AD, the purpose of this study was to determine whether aging is associated with a higher sensitivity to behavioural and neurochemical alterations elicited by an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Aß1-42 (400 pmol/mice), and whether KYN pathway is involved in these effects. We confirmed that aged mice displayed higher cognitive deficit in the object recognition test and higher anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus-maze and open field tests after the Aß1-42 administration. Aged mice also responded to Aß1-42 with a higher deficiency of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glutathione levels and total radical-trapping antioxidant capacity, a higher IDO activity, and a higher KYN and KYN/tryptophan ratio in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These effects of Aß1-42 were associated with a higher proinflammatory status, as measured by higher levels of interleukin-6, lower levels of interleukin-10 and higher expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and allograft inflammatory factor 1 (Iba1) in the brain of aged mice. These results represent primary evidence suggesting that age-associated inflammatory signature and down-regulation of neuroprotectants in the brain render aged mice more vulnerable to Aß1-42-induced memory loss, anxiety symptoms and KYN pathway dysregulation.

Protective role of chrysin on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurodegeneration a mouse model of Parkinson's disease: Involvement of neuroinflammation and neurotrophins.

Chrysin is a natural flavonoid which is found in bee propolis, honey and various plants, and neuroprotective effect of chrysin in mice was previously demonstrated by our group. Neuroinflammation, neurotrophic factors and neuronal recovery factors associated with the neuroprotective effect of this flavonoid require further investigations. Thus, now we investigated the possible involvement of inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors and neuronal recovery in the effect of chrysin in 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA), a well-established model of Parkinson's disease, in striatum of mice. The 6-OHDA microinjection induced behavioral alterations on the rotarod test and apomorphine-induced circling behavior in mice. 6-OHDA administration elevated levels of tumour necrosis factor-α, interferon-gamma, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and nuclear factor-kappa B and decreased the interleukin-10 levels, total reactive antioxidant potential and total antioxidant reactivity in striatum, as well as, modified the calcium-binding protein B (S100B), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The intrastriatal injection of 6-OHDA also induced an decrease of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanylic acid levels and tyrosine hydroxylase content. Oral treatment with chrysin (10 mg/kg, 28 days), culminated with the prevention of these alterations occasioned by 6-OHDA. These results corroborated with the neuroprotective effect of chrysin in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and, indicated the mechanism involved throught the inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors and recovery of dopaminergic neurons in striatum.

Selective A2A receptor antagonist SCH 58261 modulates striatal oxidative stress and alleviates toxicity induced by 3-Nitropropionic acid in male Wistar rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of SCH58261, a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, on striatal toxicity induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) in rats. The experimental protocol consisted of 10 administrations (once a day) of SCH58261 (0.01 or 0.05 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal, i.p.). From 7th to 10th day, 3-NP (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was injected 1 h after SCH58261 administration. Twenty-four hours after the last 3-NP injection, the body weight gain, locomotor activity (open-field test), motor coordination (rotarod test), striatal succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and parameters linked to striatal oxidative status were evaluated in rats. The marked body weight loss resulting from 3-NP injections in rats was partially protected by SCH 58261 at both doses. SCH 58261 at the highest dose was effective against impairments on motor coordination and locomotor activity induced by 3-NP. SCH 58261 was unable to restore the inhibition of SDH activity caused by 3-NP. In addition, the increase in striatal reactive species (RS) levels, depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and stimulation of glutathione reductase (GR) activity provoked by 3-NP injections were alleviated by both doses of SCH 58261. The highest dose of SCH 58261 was also effective in attenuating the increase of protein carbonyl levels as well as the inhibition of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in rats exposed to 3-NP. Our results revealed that reduction of oxidative stress in rat striatum by adenosine A2A receptor antagonism contributes for alleviating 3-NP-induced toxicity.

Organosulfur compound protects against memory decline induced by scopolamine through modulation of oxidative stress and Na+/K+ ATPase activity in mice.

The present study investigated the possible effect of BMMS in protecting against memory impairment in an Alzheimer's disease model induced by scopolamine in mice. Another objective was to evaluate the involvement of oxidative stress and Na+/K+ ATPase activity in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice. Male Swiss mice were divided into four groups: groups I and III received canola oil (10 ml/kg, intragastrically (i.g.)), while groups II and IV received BMMS (10 mg/kg, i.g.). Thirty minutes after treatments, groups III and IV received scopolamine (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)), while groups I and II received saline (5 ml/kg, i.p.). Behavioral tests were performed thirty minutes after scopolamine or saline injection. Cerebral cortex and hippocampus were removed to determine the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels, non-protein thiols (NPSH) content, catalase (CAT) and Na+/K+ ATPase activities. The results showed that BMMS pretreatment protected against the reduction in alternation and latency time induced by scopolamine in the Y-maze test and step-down inhibitory avoidance, respectively. In the Barnes maze, the latency to find the escape box and the number of holes visited were attenuated by BMMS. Locomotor and exploratory activities were similar in all groups. BMMS pretreatment protected against the increase in the TBARS levels, NPSH content and CAT activity, as well as the inhibition on the Na+/K+ ATPase activity caused by scopolamine in the cerebral cortex. In the hippocampus, no significant difference was observed. In conclusion, the present study revealed that BMMS protected against the impairment of retrieval of short-term and long-term memories caused by scopolamine in mice. Moreover, antioxidant effect and protection on the Na+/K+ ATPase activity are involved in the effect of compound against memory impairment in AD model induced by scopolamine.

Antioxidant compound (E)-2-benzylidene-4-phenyl-1,3-diselenole protects rats against thioacetamide-induced acute hepatotoxicity.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether (E)-2-benzylidene-4-phenyl-1,3-diselenole (BPD) protects against hepatotoxicity induced by thioacetamide (TAA). On the first day of treatment, male adult Wistar rats received BPD (10 or 50 mg·kg-1). On the second day, the rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of TAA (400 mg·kg-1). Twenty-four hours after TAA administration, biochemical determinations and liver histological analysis were carried out. BPD (50 mg·kg-1) reduced plasma aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities increased by TAA exposure. Treatment with BPD was effective against increased lipid peroxidation levels and attenuated a decrease in hepatic reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid levels as well as an inhibition of glutathione peroxidase activity caused by TAA exposure. The higher dose of BPD protected against the inhibition of hepatic δ-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity induced by TAA. Finally, histopathological examination of the liver showed that BPD markedly ameliorated TAA-induced hepatic injury. In conclusion, BPD protected against hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress caused by TAA exposure in rats.

Activation of Brain Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase Contributes to Depressive-Like Behavior Induced by an Intracerebroventricular Injection of Streptozotocin in Mice.

There is a lack of information concerning the molecular events underlying the depressive-like effect of an intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) in mice. The elevated activity of the tryptophan-degrading enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) has been proposed to mediate depression in inflammatory disorders. In the present study, we reported that ICV-STZ activates IDO in the hippocampus of mice and culminates in depressive-like behaviors, as measured by the increased duration of immobility in the tail suspension test and decreased sucrose intake in the sucrose preference test. The blockade of IDO activation by the IDO inhibitor 1-methyltryptophan (1-MT) prevents the development of depressive-like behaviors and attenuates STZ-induced up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. 1-MT abrogates kynurenine production and normalizes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio, but does not protect the biomarkers of the serotonin (5-HT) system in the hippocampus of STZ-injected mice. These results implicate IDO as a critical molecular mediator of STZ-induced depressive-like behavior, likely through activation of the kynurenine pathway and subsequent reduction of BDNF levels. Impairment of the 5-HT system may reflect the inflammatory response induced by STZ and also contributes to observed depression symptoms. The present study not only provides evidence that IDO plays a critical role in mediating inflammation-induced depression but also supports the notion that neuroinflammation and the kynurenine pathway are important targets for novel therapeutic drugs for depression. In addition, this study provides new insights on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ICV-STZ and indicates that this model could be employed in preclinical research of depression.

Swimming exercise prevents behavioural disturbances induced by an intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid-ß1-42 peptide through modulation of cytokine/NF-kappaB pathway and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase in mouse brain.

Emerging evidence indicates that the activation of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a first and rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine (KYN) pathway, is involved in amyloid-beta (Aß1-42)-neurotoxicity and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Physical exercise has been considered an effective intervention in AD, attenuating or limiting their progression. Nevertheless, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of exercise have not yet been fully elucidated. In present study, we investigated the protective effect of an 8-week swimming training (ST) exercise on cognitive and non-cognitive functions and its role in modulating biomarkers of KYN pathway, before an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Aß1-42 (400pmol/animal; 3µl/site) peptide in mice. Our results demonstrated that ST was effective in preventing the following behavioural disturbances caused by Aß1-42 injection: memory impairment in the object recognition test and depressive/anxiety-like behaviour in the tail suspension test and elevated plus-maze test, respectively. ST abrogated the neuroinflammatory response and neurotrophic deficiency in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus induced by Aß1-42. Also, Aß1-42 increased IDO activity, KYN and tryptophan (TRP) levels and KYN:TRP ratio in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus - alterations that were blocked by ST. It can be concluded that ST prevented behavioural and neurobiological deficits induced by Aß1-42, and suggest that these neuroprotective effects are likely to involve the inhibition of inflammation/IDO activation and up-regulation of neurotrophic factors in brain of mice. Thus, it is possible that physical exercise can be used as a non-pharmacological approach to alleviates both cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms of AD.

Intracerebroventricular Administration of Streptozotocin as an Experimental Approach to Depression: Evidence for the Involvement of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Indoleamine-2,3-Dioxygenase.

There is a lack of information about the molecular events underlying the depressive-like effect of an intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) in mice. Elevated activity of the tryptophan-degrading enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) has been proposed to mediate depression in inflammatory disorders. In this study, we report that ICV-STZ activates IDO in the hippocampus of mice and culminates in depressive-like behaviors, measured by an increased duration in immobility time in the forced swimming test and decreased total time of grooming in the splash test. Indirect blockade of IDO activation with the cytokine inhibitor minocycline prevents the development of depressive-like behaviors and attenuates STZ-induced upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. Minocycline abrogates the increase in tryptophan and kynurenine levels as well as prevents serotonin dysfunction in the hippocampus of STZ-injected mice. These results suggest that hippocampal IDO activation in STZ-associated depressive-like behavior is mediated by proinflammatory cytokine-dependent mechanisms. Our study not only extends the evidence that IDO has a critical role in mediating inflammation-induced depression but also supports the notion that neuroinflammation and the kynurenine pathway are important targets of novel therapeutic drugs for depression. In addition, our study provides new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ICV-STZ and indicates that this model could be employed in the preclinical research of depression.

Hesperidin reverses cognitive and depressive disturbances induced by olfactory bulbectomy in mice by modulating hippocampal neurotrophins and cytokine levels and acetylcholinesterase activity.

Depression is a serious mental disorder that is becoming more common. To better treat patients suffering from this illness, elucidation of the underlying psychopathological and neurobiological mechanisms of depression is needed. Based on the evidence, we sought to investigate the effects of hesperidin in a model of depression induced by olfactory bulbectomy (OB). C57BL/6 mice were treated with hesperidin (50mg/kg) and imipramine (10mg/kg, positive control) after OB induction. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and acetylcholinesterase activity were analyzed in the hippocampus of the mice. The behavioral parameters were also verified in the model of depression induced by OB. This study demonstrated that OB increased the pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus, exploratory activity in the open field test and immobility in the forced swimming test in mice. In addition, OB decreased the BDNF and NGF levels in the hippocampus, grooming time in the splash test and memory consolidation in the Morris water maze task. Treatment with hesperidin, similar to imipramine, was effective in preventing these behavioral and neurochemical alterations. We suggest that the main targets of hesperidin are pro-inflammatory cytokine modulation, helping to maintain brain plasticity and acetylcholinesterase activity regulation, which are closely linked with antidepressant-like action, as shown by behavior tests. This study demonstrated that there is a pharmacological effect of hesperidin in alterations induced by OB in mice, indicating that hesperidin could be useful as a treatment for depression.

Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase mediates neurobehavioral alterations induced by an intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid-ß1-42 peptide in mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a progressive cognitive decline along with various neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Increasing evidence has been proposed the activation of the tryptophan-degrading indoleamine-2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO), the rate-limiting enzyme of kynurerine pathway (KP), as a pathogenic factor of amyloid-beta (Aß)-related inflammation in AD. In the current study, the effects of an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Aß1-42 peptide (400pmol/mice; 3µl/site) on the regulation of KP biomarkers (IDO activity, tryptophan and kynurerine levels) and the impact of Aß1-42 on neurotrophic factors levels were investigated as potential mechanisms linking neuroinflammation to cognitive/emotional disturbances in mice. Our results demonstrated that Aß1-42 induced memory impairment in the object recognition test. Aß1-42 also induced emotional alterations, such as depressive and anxiety-like behaviors, as evaluated in the tail suspension and elevated-plus maze tests, respectively. We observed an increase in levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the Aß1-42-treated mice, which led to an increase in IDO activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus (HC). The IDO activation subsequently increased kynurerine production and the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio and decreased the levels of neurotrophic factors in the PFC and HC, which contributed to Aß-associated behavioral disturbances. The inhibition of IDO activation by IDO inhibitor 1-methyltryptophan (1-MT), prevented the development of behavioral and neurochemical alterations. These data demonstrate that brain IDO activation plays a key role in mediating the memory and emotional disturbances in an experimental model based on Aß-induced neuroinflammation.

Neuropeptide Y administration reverses tricyclic antidepressant treatment-resistant depression induced by ACTH in mice.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and a primary cause of disability. To better treat patients suffering this illness, elucidation of the underlying psychopathological and neurobiological mechanisms is urgently needed. Based on the above-mentioned evidence, we sought to investigate the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) treatment in tricyclic antidepressant treatment-resistant depression induced by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration. Mice were treated with NPY (5.84, 11.7 or 23.4mmol/µl) intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) for one or five days. The levels of serum corticosterone, tryptophan (TRP), kynurenine (KYN), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity in the hippocampus were analyzed. The behavioral parameters (depressive-like and locomotor activity) were also verified. This study demonstrated that ACTH administration increased serum corticosterone levels, KYN, 5-HIAA levels, IDO activity (hippocampus), immobility in the forced swimming test (FST) and the latency to feed in the novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT). In addition, ACTH administration decreased the BDNF and NGF levels in the hippocampus of mice. NPY treatment was effective in preventing these hormonal, neurochemical and behavioral alterations. It is suggested that the main target of NPY is the modulation of corticosterone and neuronal plasticity protein levels, which may be closely linked with pharmacological action in a model of tricyclic antidepressant treatment-resistant depression. Thus, this study demonstrated a protective effect of NPY on the alterations induced by ACTH administration in mice, indicating that it could be useful as a therapy for the treatment of tricyclic antidepressant treatment-resistant depression.

Flavonoid Chrysin prevents age-related cognitive decline via attenuation of oxidative stress and modulation of BDNF levels in aged mouse brain.

In this study, the effect of Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone), an important member of the flavonoid family, on memory impairment, oxidative stress and BDNF reduction generated by aging in mice were investigated. Young and aged mice were treated daily per 60days with Chrysin (1 and 10mg/kg; per oral, p.o.) or veichle (10ml/kg; p.o.). Mice were trained and tested in Morris Water Maze task. After the behavioural test, the levels of reactive species (RS), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as the activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were determined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HC) of mice. Results demonstrated that the age-related memory decline was partially protected by Chrysin at a dose of 1mg/kg, and normalized at the dose of 10mg/kg (p<0.001). Treatment with Chrysin significantly attenuated the increase of RS levels and the inhibition of SOD, CAT and GPx activities of aged mice. Inhibition of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in PFC and HP of aged mice was also attenuated by Chrysin treatment. Moreover, Chrysin marked mitigated the decrease of BDNF levels in the PFC and HC of aged mice. These results demonstrated that flavonoid Chrysin, an antioxidant compound, was able to prevent age-associated memory probably by their free radical scavenger action and modulation of BDNF production. Thus, this study indicates that Chrysin may represent a new pharmacological approach to alleviate the age-related declines during normal age, acting as an anti-aging agent.

Ebselen protects against behavioral and biochemical toxicities induced by 3-nitropropionic acid in rats: correlations between motor coordination, reactive species levels, and succinate dehydrogenase activity.

The protective effect of ebselen was investigated against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced behavioral and biochemical toxicities in rats. Ebselen (10 or 25 mg/kg, intragastrically) was administered to rats 30 min before 3-NP (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) once a day for a period of 4 days. Locomotor activity, motor coordination, and body weight gain were determined. The striatal content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AA), and protein carbonyl as well as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities was determined 24 h after the last dose of 3-NP. Na(+)/ K(+)-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and δ-aminolevulinic dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activities were also determined. The results demonstrated that ebselen at a dose of 25 mg/kg, but not at 10 mg/kg, protected against (1) a decrease in locomotor activity, motor coordination impairment, and body weight loss; (2) striatal oxidative damage, which was characterized by an increase in ROS levels, protein carbonyl content, and GR activity, an inhibition of CAT and GPx activities, and a decrease in GSH levels; and (3) an inhibition of SDH and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activities, induced by 3-NP. GST activity and AA levels were not modified by ebselen or 3-NP. Ebselen was not effective against the inhibition of δ-ALA-D activity induced by 3-NP. The results revealed a significant correlation between SDH activity and ROS levels, and SDH activity and latency to fall (rotarod test). The present study highlighted the protective effect of ebselen against 3-NP-induced toxicity in rats.

Protective effect of hesperidin in a model of Parkinson's disease induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in aged mice.

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson's disease (PD) may be caused by the interaction of a number of factors, including genetics, toxins, oxidative stress, mitochondrial abnormalities, and aging. Studies have shown that consumption of an antioxidant-rich diet may reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the flavonoid hesperidin in an animal model of PD induced by 6-hidroxidopamine (6-OHDA). METHODS: Aged mice were treated with hesperidin (50 mg/kg) during 28 d after an intracerebroventricular injection of 6-OHDA. The enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase, the levels of glutathione, reactive oxygen species, total reactive antioxidant potential, dopamine and its levels of metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, was analyzed in the striatum. The behavioral parameters (depressive-like, memory, and locomotor) were measured. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that hesperidin (50 mg/kg) treatment was effective in preventing memory impairment in the Morris water maze test, as well as, depressive-like behavior in the tail suspension test. Hesperidin attenuated the 6-OHDA-induced reduction in glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity, total reactive antioxidant potential and the dopamine and its metabolite levels in the striatum of aged mice. 6-OHDA increased reactive oxygen species levels and glutathione reductase activity in the striatum, and these alterations were mitigated by chronic administration of hesperidin. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a protective effect of hesperidin on the neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA in aged mice, indicating that it could be useful as a therapy for the treatment of PD.

The protective effect of melatonin against brain oxidative stress and hyperlocomotion in a rat model of mania induced by ouabain.

This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of melatonin in a preclinical animal model of mania induced by ouabain (OUA). Male Wistar rats were pretreated with melatonin (5 or 20mg/kg; intraperitoneal, i.p.) for seven days or with the mood stabilizer lithium chloride (positive control) (45 mg/kg, per oral, p.o.). One day after the last dose, animals received an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of OUA (5µl, 10(-5)M), a Na(+)K(+)ATPase-inhibiting compound. Locomotor activity was assessed in the open-field test (OFT). The levels of reactive species (RS), protein carbonyl (PC) and non-protein thiols (NPSH), as well as the activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats. OUA markedly increased the locomotor activity in the OFT, and the pretreatment with melatonin or lithium chloride prevented this effect. Melatonin treatment (similar to lithium) was also effective in preventing the following alterations elicited by OUA: increase of RS and PC levels; depletion of NPSH levels; increase of SOD activity; and inhibition of CAT and GPx activities. Moreover, we found that brain oxidative stress and behavioural alterations elicited by OUA were significantly correlated. Our study showed that Melatonin, similarly to lithium, protected against OUA-induced brain oxidative stress and hyperlocomotion in rats. Thus, our findings reinforce the notion that oxidative stress may play an important role in the manic-like behavioural. Therefore, we indicate that melatonin has antimanic-like action, suggesting a potential role for this substance in the pharmacological management of Bipolar disorder.

Involvement of mGlu5 receptor in 3-nitropropionic acid-induced oxidative stress in rat striatum.

OBJECTIVES: The excitotoxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) induces a suitable experimental model of Huntington's disease (HD). This compound induces neurodegeneration via glutamatergic activation and oxidative stress, suggesting that the metabotropic glutamate receptor blockage and free radical scavenging are potential therapeutic targets in HD. In this study, we evaluated the role of 3-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl) ethynyl]-pyridine (MTEP), a selective mGlu5 receptor antagonist, in a 3-NP model of HD. METHODS: We administered 3-NP (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) to rats for 4 days. MTEP at doses of 2·5 and 5 mg/kg was administered 30 min before 3-NP. Behavioral tests and biochemical experiments were performed to assess the effects of 3-NP and the ability of MTEP to ameliorate these changes. RESULTS: 3-NP administration induced body weight loss, decreased locomotor activity, and inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase and Na(+)-K(+) adenosine triphosphate (ATP)ase activities in rat striatum. We also observed increases in reactive species (RS) levels and glutathione reductase activity, decreased non-protein thiol levels, and an inhibition of glutathione peroxidase activity in the striatum of rats treated with 3-NP. Notably, all of these effects were attenuated by MTEP treatment. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate the neuroprotective effect of MTEP and reinforce the involvement of mGluR5 in 3-NP-induced oxidative stress in rat striatum.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist pioglitazone protects against cisplatin-induced renal damage in mice.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists not only improve metabolic abnormalities of diabetes and consequent diabetic nephropathy, but they also protect against non-diabetic kidney disease in experimental models. Here, we investigated the effect of PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone against acute renal injury on a cisplatin model in mice. Nephrotoxicity was induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cisplatin (10 mg kg(-1)). Pioglitazone was administered for six consecutive days in doses of 15 or 30 mg kg(-1) day(-1), per os (p.o.), starting 3 days before cisplatin injection. Cisplatin treatment to mice induced a marked renal failure, characterized by a significant increase in serum urea and creatinine levels and alterations in renal tissue architecture. Cisplatin exposure induced oxidative stress as indicated by decreased levels of non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses [glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid levels] and components of the enzymatic antioxidant defenses [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and and glutathione S-transferase(GST) activities)] in renal tissue. Administration of pioglitazone markedly protected against the increase in urea and creatinine levels and histological alterations in kidney induced by cisplatin treatment. Pioglitazone administration ameliorated GSH and ascorbic acid levels decreased by cisplatin exposure in mice. Pioglitazone protected against the inhibition of CAT, SOD, GPx, GR and GST activities induced by cisplatin in the kidneys of mice. These results indicated that pioglitazone has a protective effect against cisplatin-induced renal damage in mice. The protection is mediated by preventing the decline of antioxidant status. The results have implications in use of PPAR-γ agonists in human application for protecting against drugs-induced nephrotoxicity.

Depressive-like behaviour induced by an intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin in mice: the protective effect of fluoxetine, antitumour necrosis factor-α and thalidomide therapies.

Information on the effect of an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) on noncognitive behaviour in rodents such as depression states is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the depressive-like effect of STZ injected by the i.c.v. route in mice and the potential protective effect of fluoxetine, antitumour necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) and thalidomide. Our results indicated that a single injection of STZ (0.1 mg/site) promoted depressive-like behaviour in the tail suspension and sucrose preference tests without altering either locomotor activity or plasma glucose levels. We also showed that STZ increased TNF-α levels in the hippocampus of mice. Fluoxetine (32 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. 30 min before STZ injection), and the anti-TNF-α antibody (0.1 pg/site, i.c.v.) and thalidomide (3 mg/kg, subcutaneously), coadministered with STZ, prevented these effects. This is the first study to report depressive-like effects of STZ using the i.c.v. route in mice. We concluded that fluoxetine, anti-TNF-α antibody and thalidomide were effective in preventing depressive-like behaviour and the increase in TNF-α levels in the hippocampus of mice induced by an i.c.v. injection of STZ, reinforcing the involvement of TNF-α in the pathophysiology of depression. This model and the mechanisms studied may contribute towards the development of new antidepressant drugs and enhance the options for studying depression.