The increasing potential of nuclear medicine imaging for the evaluation and reduction of normal tissue toxicity from radiation treatments.

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment modality for a variety of cancers. Despite several advances in delivery techniques, its main drawback remains the deposition of dose in normal tissues which can result in toxicity. Common practices of evaluating toxicity, using questionnaires and grading systems, provide little underlying information beyond subjective scores, and this can limit further optimization of treatment strategies. Nuclear medicine imaging techniques can be utilised to directly measure regional baseline function and function loss from internal/external radiation therapy within normal tissues in an in vivo setting with high spatial resolution. This can be correlated with dose delivered by radiotherapy techniques to establish objective dose-effect relationships, and can also be used in the treatment planning step to spare normal tissues more efficiently. Toxicity in radionuclide therapy typically occurs due to undesired off-target uptake in normal tissues. Molecular imaging using diagnostic analogues of therapeutic radionuclides can be used to test various interventional protective strategies that can potentially reduce this normal tissue uptake without compromising tumour uptake. We provide an overview of the existing literature on these applications of nuclear medicine imaging in diverse normal tissue types utilising various tracers, and discuss its future potential.

The selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist SLV has putative cognitive- and social interaction enhancing properties in rodent models of cognitive impairment.

In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether the novel highly selective 5-hydroxytryptamine6 (5-HT6) receptor antagonist SLV can ameliorate impairments in cognition and social interaction with potential relevance for both schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). SLV sub-chronically - treated Wistar rats reared in isolation showed significantly enhanced prepulse inhibition (PPI) and object recognition performance when compared to vehicle - treated rats. In the isolated rats, also a significant reduction in expression of hippocampal neural cell adhesion molecule polysialylation (NCAM-PSA) was found which was ameliorated following treatment with SLV (30mg/kg). The social engagement deficit in rats exposed in utero (on gestational day 12.5) to valproic acid (VPA) was reversed by treatment with SLV (30mg/kg). SLV (20 and 30mg/kg, p.o.) fully reversed MK-801 - induced deficits in the ORT and also scopolamine - induced deficits in both the Object Recognition Task (ORT) and Object Location Task (OLT) in Wistar rats. In addition, a combination of sub-optimal doses of SLV and donepezil attenuated scopolamine-induced ORT deficits. Furthermore, SLV (10mg/kg, p.o.) reversed spontaneous alternation deficits in the T-maze induced by MK-801 administration in Swiss mice and in aged C57Bl/6J mice. SLV additionally improved T-Maze spatial learning and passive avoidance learning in Sprague-Dawley rats with amyoid-beta (Aß) injections into the hippocampus. In contrast, no benefits were found with SLV or the tested reference compounds (donepezil and RVT-101) on cognitive performance of 12months old Tg2576 mice. Also, in the social recognition task, an absence of cognitive enhancing properties was observed with SLV on "normal forgetting" in Wistar rats. Finally, analysis of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) frequency recorded from pyramidal cells revealed a reduction in the presence of 1µM of SLV. In conclusion, SLV was investigated in several rodent animal models and found to be effective at a least effective dose (LED) of 20mg/kg and 10mg/kg (p.o.) in the rat and the mouse, respectively.

Two novel 5-HT6 receptor antagonists ameliorate scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the object recognition and object location tasks in Wistar rats.

The 5-hydroxytryptamine(6) (5-HT(6)) receptor has been suggested to play an important role in the regulation of memory and cognition. In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether the novel, selective 5-HT(6) antagonists compound (CMP) X and CMP Y and the reference 5-HT(6) antagonist GSK-742457 could ameliorate impairments in episodic memory in 3-months-old male Wistar rats. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) donepezil (Aricept®, approved for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease, AD) was used as a positive reference compound. First, effects of the 5-HT(6) antagonists CMP X, CMP Y and GSK-742457 were investigated on object recognition task (ORT) performance in rats treated with the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine (0.1mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally, i.p., 30 min before trial 1). Second, effects of the combination of suboptimal doses of 5-HT(6) antagonists CMP X and CMP Y with the AChEI donepezil were studied, to determine whether the 5-HT(6) antagonists show additive synergism with donepezil in the ORT. Finally, effects of CMP Y, GSK-742457 and donepezil were investigated on object location task (OLT) performance in rats treated with scopolamine. Donepezil (1mg/kg, oral administration, p.o.), GSK-742457 (3mg/kg, i.p.), CMP X (3mg/kg, i.p.) and CMP Y (30 mg/kg, p.o.), all ameliorated the scopolamine-induced deficits in object recognition. In the ORT, we have found that combined administration of subthreshold doses of CMP X (1mg/kg, i.p.) and CMP Y (10mg/kg, p.o.) with the AChEI donepezil (0.1mg/kg, p.o.), enhanced memory performance in Wistar rats with deficits induced by scopolamine. Donepezil (0.1mg/kg, p.o.) alone had no discernable effects on performance. This suggests additive synergistic effects of the 5-HT(6) antagonists (CMP X and CMP Y) with donepezil on cognitive impairment. Finally, donepezil (1mg/kg, p.o.), GSK-742457 (10mg/kg, p.o.) and CMP Y (30 mg/kg, p.o.) also reduced scopolamine-induced deficits in the OLT. In conclusion, the 5-HT(6) antagonists were found to clearly improve episodic memory deficits induced by scopolamine. In addition, co-administration of the 5-HT(6) receptor antagonists CMP X and CMP Y with the AChEI donepezil to cognitively impaired rats also resulted in potentially additive enhancing effects on cognition. This suggests that these compounds could have potential as monotherapy, but also as adjunctive therapy in patients with AD treated with common treatments such as donepezil.

The effect of eating on the uptake of PSMA ligands in the salivary glands.

RATIONALE: PSMA-directed therapy for metastatic prostate cancer is gaining adoption as a treatment option. However, accumulation of 177Lu/225Ac-PSMA in the salivary glands remains a problem, with risk of dose-limiting xerostomia and potentially severe effect on the quality of life. Gustatory stimulation is an approach that has commonly been used in radioactive iodine therapy to reduce accumulation in the salivary glands. However, based on theoretical differences in biodistribution, it was hypothesized that this could potentially lead to adverse increased toxicity for PSMA-ligand therapy. The primary objective of this work was to determine if gustatory stimulation by eating an assortment of sweet/fatty/acidic foods during the biodistribution phase of [18F]DCFPyl could result in a clinically relevant (> 30%) change in the uptake of the tracer in the salivary glands. METHODS: 10 patients who already received a whole-body [18F]DCFPyl PET/CT scan for evaluation of prostate cancer, underwent a repeat (intervention) PET/CT scan within a month of the first (control) scan. During the intervention scan, patients chose from an assortment of sweet/fatty/acidic foods, which they then chewed and swallowed for a period of time starting 1 min before tracer administration to 10 min thereafter. Data from both scans were analyzed by placing VOIs on the major salivary glands and segmenting them using relative thresholds. RESULTS: A slight increase in PSMA uptake in the parotid glands was observed on the intervention scan when compared to the baseline scan (+ 7.1% SULmean and + 9.2% SULmax, p < 0.05). No significant difference in PSMA uptake in the submandibular glands was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Eating only slightly increases uptake of [18F]DCFPyl in the parotid glands. We nonetheless recommend refraining from gustatory stimulation during the administration and early biodistribution phase of radionuclide therapy with PSMA-ligands to reduce the risk of avoidable additional toxicity.

Muscarinic inhibition of salivary glands with glycopyrronium bromide does not reduce the uptake of PSMA-ligands or radioiodine.

RATIONALE: Salivary glands are highly perfused and express the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) receptor as well as the sodium-iodide symporter. As a consequence, treatment with 177Lu/225Ac-PSMA for prostate cancer or 131I for thyroid cancer leads to a high radiation dose in the salivary glands, and patients can be confronted with persistent xerostomia and reduced quality of life. Salivation can be inhibited using an antimuscarinic pharmaceutical, such as glycopyrronium bromide (GPB), which may also reduce perfusion. The primary objective of this work was to determine if inhibition with GPB could provide a considerable (> 30%) reduction in the accumulation of administered 123I or 68Ga-PSMA-11 in salivary glands. METHODS: Ten patients who already received a whole-body 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scan for (re)staging of prostate cancer underwent a repeat PET/CT scan with tracer administration at 90 min after intravenous injection of 0.2 mg GPB. Four patients in follow-up after thyroid cancer, who had been treated with one round of ablative 131I therapy with curative intent and had no signs of recurrence, received 123I planar scintigraphy at 4 h after tracer administration without GPB and a repeated scan at least one week later, with tracer administration at 30 min after intramuscular injection of 0.4 mg GPB. Tracer uptake in the salivary glands was quantified on PET and scintigraphy, respectively, and values with and without GPB were compared. RESULTS: No significant difference in PSMA uptake in the salivary glands was seen without or with GPB (Mean SULmean parotid glands control 5.57, intervention 5.72, p = 0.50. Mean SULmean submandibular glands control 6.25, intervention 5.89, p = 0.12). Three out of 4 patients showed increased 123I uptake in the salivary glands after GPB (Mean counts per pixel control 8.60, intervention 11.46). CONCLUSION: Muscarinic inhibition of salivation with GPB did not significantly reduce the uptake of PSMA-ligands or radioiodine in salivary glands, and can be dismissed as a potential strategy to reduce toxicity from radionuclide therapies.

SLV330, a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, ameliorates deficits in the T-maze, object recognition and Social Recognition Tasks in rodents.

Cannabinoid CB(1) receptor (CB(1)R) signaling has been suggested to play an important role in the regulation of memory and cognition. In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether the CB(1)R antagonist SLV330 (doses ranging from 0.3 to 10mg/kg, given orally, p.o.) could ameliorate impairments in distinct aspects of cognition using different disruption models in both mice and rats. Effects of SLV330 were tested on working memory deficits in the T-maze Continuous Alternation Task (T-CAT) in mice; episodic memory deficits in the Object Recognition Task (ORT) and Social Recognition Task (SRT) in rats. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) donepezil (Aricept, approved for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease) and nicotine were used as reference compounds. SLV330 markedly improved aging and scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the T-CAT in mice with a lowest effective dose (LED) of 1mg/kg p.o., while reversing the cognitive dysfunction induced by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801) only at the middle dose of 3mg/kg. In the ORT, we have found that combined administration of subthreshold doses of SLV330 (1mg/kg, p.o.) and the AChEI donepezil (0.1mg/kg, p.o.), that had no discernable effects on performance when given alone, enhanced memory performance in Wistar rats with deficits induced by the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine, suggestive of additive synergistic effects of SLV330 and donepezil on cognitive impairment. Finally, SLV330 was found to have cognition enhancing properties in a time delay paradigm in the SRT at a LED dose of 3mg/kg (p.o.). In conclusion, the CB(1)R antagonist SLV330 was found to clearly improve memory in several preclinical models for cognitive impairment.

Attentional performance of (C57BL/6Jx129Sv)F2 mice in the five-choice serial reaction time task.

Impaired attention is evident in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. In the present study, attentional capabilities were measured in the operant five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) in male (C57BL/6Jx129Sv)F2 hybrid (B6129F2) mice. Main aims were to validate and standardize the test in these mice: to setup procedures, measure potential beneficial effects of sub-chronic nicotine in degraded versions of the 5-CSRTT (by decreasing stimulus duration, inducing white noise and making the stimuli unpredictable) and study disruptive effects of additional administration of the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine. During the baseline pre-nicotine sessions, the B6129F2 mice attained a very good performance in the test (95% accuracy). As stimulus duration was reduced from 2 s to 1 s, response accuracy of the mice decreased. Mice treated with nicotine (0.16 mg/kg) attained significantly higher response accuracy and had a lower percentage of incorrect responses in comparison with the solvent-treated animals. No further beneficial effects of nicotine were found. Reduced response accuracy was also obtained when stimulus duration was reduced from 1 s to 0.5 s and when a variable intertrial interval was introduced. Noise interpolation between trials did not impair performance. Finally, scopolamine (0.16 mg/kg) disrupted attentional functioning. Although most studies have been performed in rats, these results add to the existing evidence that the 5-CSRTT can also be used to assess attentional performance in mice. This offers the opportunity to test transgenic and knockout mice with similar background as the B6129F2 as animal models of psychiatric and neurological diseases.

Multiple rodent models and behavioral measures reveal unexpected responses to FTY720 and DMF in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a widely-used rodent model for multiple sclerosis (MS), but a single model can hardly capture all features of MS. We investigated whether behavioral parameters in addition to clinical motor function scores could be used to assess treatment efficacy during score-free intervals in the relapsing-remitting EAE model in SJL/J mice. We studied the effects of the clinical reference compounds FTY720 (fingolimod, 0.5mg/kg/day) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF, 20-30 mg/kg/day) on clinical scores in several rodent EAE models in order to generate efficacy profiles. SJL/J mice with relapsing-remitting EAE were studied using behavioral tests, including rotarod, gait analysis, locomotor activity and grip strength. SJL/J mice were also examined according to Crawley's sociability and preference for social novelty test. Prophylactic treatment with FTY720 prevented clinical scores in three of the four EAE rodent models: Dark Agouti (DA) and Lewis rats and C57BL/6J mice. Neither prophylactic nor late-therapeutic treatment with FTY720 reduced clinical scores or reversed deficits in the rotarod test in SJL/J mice, but we observed effects on motor functions and sociability in the absence of clinical scores. Prophylactic treatment with FTY720 improved the gait of SJL/J mice whereas late-therapeutic treatment improved manifestations of reduced social (re)cognition or preference for social novelty. DMF was tested in three EAE models and did not improve clinical scores at the dose used. These data indicate that improvements in behavioral deficits can occur in absence of clinical scores, which indicate subtle drug effects and may have translational value for human MS.

Hippocampal and cortical sensory gating in rats: effects of quinpirole microinjections in nucleus accumbens core and shell.

Sensory processing disturbances, as measured in the P50/sensory gating paradigm, have been linked to aberrant auditory information processing and sensory overload in schizophrenic patients. In this paradigm, the response to the second of paired-click stimuli is attenuated by an inhibitory effect of the first stimulus. Sensory gating has been observed in most healthy human subjects and normal laboratory rats. Because mesolimbic dopamine has been implicated in other filtering disturbances such as prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response and given the fact that amphetamine and apomorphine have been shown to disrupt gating, this study was performed to investigate the role of mesolimbic dopamine in sensory gating. The dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole (10 microg/0.5 microl) was injected bilaterally in nucleus accumbens core and shell and effects on cortical and hippocampal sensory gating were investigated. Also, effects of the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) as pretreatment were studied. First, quinpirole significantly reduced both the amplitude to the first click and gating as measured in the cortex and in the hippocampus. There was a tendency for the quinpirole effects on hippocampal gating to be more pronounced in rats injected in the shell. Secondly, haloperidol did not antagonize effects of quinpirole on hippocampal parameters, whereas haloperidol pretreatment fully antagonized quinpirole effects on cortical parameters. In conclusion, gating can be significantly reduced when a dopamine agonist is specifically targeted at mesolimbic dopamine D2 receptors. However, an important consideration is that the dopaminergic effects in the present study on gating are predominantly mediated by the effects on the amplitude to the first click. This has also been suggested for systemic amphetamine injections in rats and schizophrenic patients. This casts doubt on whether dopamine receptor activation affects the putative inhibitory process between the first and the second stimulus.

Auditory information processing in rat genotypes with different dopaminergic properties.

RATIONALE: Auditory filtering disturbances, as measured in the sensory gating and prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigms, have been linked to aberrant auditory information processing and sensory overload in schizophrenic patients. In both paradigms, the response to the second stimulus (S2) is attenuated by an inhibitory effect of the first stimulus (S1). Dopamine (DA) agonists have been found to reduce gating of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) and PPI in healthy human subjects and in rats. These effects have been linked to DA hyperactivity in the mesolimbic system. A non-invasive approach in studying the role of the DA system in PPI and AEP gating is to compare rat genotypes that are marked by distinct DA systems. OBJECTIVES: Several questions were asked in the present study. Are PPI and AEP gating disturbed in (a) rats that are marked by a relatively high DA reactivity of the mesolimbic system, namely apomorphine-susceptible (APO-SUS) and WAG/Rij rats or in (b) rats that are marked by a relatively high DA activity of the nigrostriatal system, namely apomorphine-unsusceptible (APO-UNSUS) and ACI rats? Moreover, is the particular DA balance (c) between the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic system related to deficits in PPI and AEP gating? METHODS: For this purpose, the above-mentioned four rat genotypes (APO-SUS, APO-UNSUS, ACI and WAG/Rij) that vary in DA balance between both systems, were compared in the AEP gating paradigm. PPI was only measured in the ACI and WAG/Rij rats, since it has already been shown in a previous study that APO-SUS rats show diminished PPI as compared to rats of the APO-UNSUS genotype. RESULTS: AEP gating of the vertex N50 was significantly reduced in WAG/Rij rats as compared to the remaining three rat genotypes (APO-SUS, APO-UNSUS and ACI). No PPI deficits were found in the ACI and WAG/Rij rats, although ACI rats had a significantly higher basal startle amplitude. CONCLUSIONS: The PPI deficit in APO-SUS and not in the other genotypes, suggests that especially a relatively high DA reactivity of the mesolimbic system, together with a relatively low activity of the nigrostriatal system, contributes to this deficit. In contrast, the N50 gating deficit in WAG/Rij rats and not in the other genotypes suggests that a relatively high DA activity of the nigrostriatal system together with a relatively high DA reactivity of the mesolimbic system is necessary for the presence of a N50 gating deficit. On the basis of these results we have concluded that both auditory filtering processes are differently regulated by DA in the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic systems.

Differential effects of ketamine on gating of auditory evoked potentials and prepulse inhibition in rats.

Schizophrenic patients suffer from deficits in information processing. Patients show both a decrease in P50 gating [assessed in the conditioning-testing (C-T) paradigm] and prepulse inhibition (PPI), two paradigms that assess gating. These two paradigms might have a related underlying neural substrate. Gating, as measured in both the C-T paradigm (the gating of a component of the auditory evoked potential (AEP)], and PPI can easily be measured in animals as well as in humans. This offers the opportunity to model these information processing paradigms in animals in order to investigate the effects of neurotransmitter manipulations in the brain. In order to validate the animal model for disturbances in AEP gating, d-amphetamine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered. Gating of an AEP component was changed due to injection of d-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) in the same way as seen in schizophrenic patients: both the amplitude to the conditioning click and the gating were significantly reduced. Next, the effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist ketamine (2.5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) was investigated to assess its effects in the two gating paradigms. It was found that ketamine (10 mg/kg) did not affect gating as measured with components of the AEP. However, ketamine (10 mg/kg) disrupted PPI of the startle response to the extent that prepulse facilitation occurred. Firstly, it is concluded that AEP gating was disrupted by d-amphetamine and not by ketamine. Secondly, PPI and the C-T paradigm reflect distinct inhibitory sensory processes, since both paradigms are differentially influenced by ketamine.

Dopamine characteristics in different rat genotypes: the relation to absence epilepsy.

Dopaminergic neurotransmission has been shown to participate in the control of absence epilepsy. This type of epilepsy, a generalized non-convulsive form, is associated with bursts of bilateral synchronous spike wave discharges (SWDs) recorded in the EEG. In a previous study, it was suggested that two features of the apomorphine-susceptible (APO-SUS) rat genotype, a relatively low dopaminergic reactivity of the nigrostriatal system and relatively high dopaminergic reactivity of the mesolimbic system, contribute to the high incidence of SWDs. Indeed, apomorphine-unsusceptible (APO-UNSUS) rats, characterized by opposite dopaminergic features, show considerably less SWDs than APO-SUS rats. The first goal of the present study was to assess the baseline SWD incidence in four rat genotypes (WAG/Rij, ACI, APO-SUS and APO-UNSUS) in order to replicate previous findings. It was expected that both the APO-SUS and WAG/Rij rats would show a considerably higher SWD incidence in comparison to the APO-UNSUS and ACI rats. For this purpose, rats were registered for a 19 hour period. Assuming that haloperidol decreases dopaminergic transmission in the nigrostriatal system via inhibition of the dopamine receptors and enhances dopaminergic transmission in the mesolimbic system via inhibition of the noradrenergic receptors, it was postulated that haloperidol would enhance the difference in dopaminergic reactivity between both systems in favor of the accumbens. Therefore, the second purpose in the present study was to investigate whether haloperidol (2 mg/kg, IP) could further potentiate SWD incidence when injected in the APO-SUS rats, already characterized by a relatively low dopaminergic reactivity of the nigrostriatal system and relatively high dopaminergic reactivity of the mesolimbic system, in comparison to the APO-UNSUS rat genotype. Finally, the third aim was to study if another epileptic rat genotype, the WAG/Rij, would show similar increases in SWD incidence following an injection with haloperidol as expected for the APO-SUS. First, previous findings were replicated: the value of the hourly number of SWDs decreased in the following order: APO-SUS > WAG/Rij > APO-UNSUS and ACI. Secondly, earlier data were extended by the fact that the APO-SUS responded to a systemic injection of haloperidol with an increase in SWD number and duration, in contrast to the APO-UNSUS rats. The hypothesis that the SWD incidence would be mostly affected by haloperidol in the APO-SUS rats, was confirmed by these findings. It is suggested that haloperidol increases the SWD incidence in APO-SUS rats by enhancing the difference between the dopaminergic reactivity in the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic system. Finally, further research is required to provide evidence in favor of the hypothesis that the relative dominance of the dopaminergic mesolimbic system is smaller in WAG/Rij than in APO-SUS.

Sensory gating of auditory evoked potentials in rats: effects of repetitive stimulation and the interstimulus interval.

In the P50 gating or conditioning-testing (C-T) paradigm, the P50 response, a small positive midlatency ( approximately 50 ms after stimulus onset) component of the human auditory evoked potential (AEP), is reduced towards the second click (S2) as compared to the response to the first click (S1). This phenomenon is called sensory gating. The putative function of sensory gating is thought to protect subjects from being flooded by irrelevant stimuli. Comparative studies have been done in rats in order to elucidate the underlying neural substrate of sensory gating. However, for a direct comparison of rat and human AEP components, it is imperative for both components to show similar characteristics. The amount of sensory gating in humans is dependent on repetitive stimulation and the interstimulus interval (ISI). In the present study effects of repetitive stimulation (Experiment 1) and various ISIs (Experiment 2) were determined on rat AEP components. The results demonstrate that gating is not limited to a restricted cortical area or a single midlatency component and that repetitive stimulation and ISI affect gating of several rat AEP components. Components such as the vertex P17 and N22 show a decrease in gating within several S1-S2 presentations, mainly due to a decrease in amplitude to S1 (Experiment 1). Gating for vertex components (such as the P17, N22 and N50) is ISI dependent (Experiment 2), but there is no interval in the 200-600 ms range at which optimal gating occurs. The ISI effects on gating are due to an increase of the amplitude to S2. The results have implications for the discussion about the rat homologue of the human P50.

Effects of risperidone, clozapine and the 5-HT6 antagonist GSK-742457 on PCP-induced deficits in reversal learning in the two-lever operant task in male Sprague Dawley rats.

Reasoning and problem solving deficits have been reported in schizophrenic patients. In the present study, we have tested rats in a two-lever reversal learning task in a Skinner box to model these deficits. In other studies using the Skinner box, atypical antipsychotics fully reversed phencyclidine (PCP)-induced impairments in reversal learning which is in contrast to clinical observations where antipsychotics lack the ability to fully reverse cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Therefore, it can be argued that the outcome of these tests may lack predictive value. In the present study, after training on a spatial discrimination between two levers, rats were exposed to a reversal of the previously learned stimulus-response contingency during 5 days. We first investigated the effects of sub-chronic treatment with the non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists dizocilpine (MK-801) and PCP on reversal learning and extinction in male Sprague Dawley rats. Subsequently, we studied the effects of different PCP treatment regimes. Then, we investigated whether the atypical antipsychotics risperidone and clozapine and the 5-hydroxytryptamine6 (5-HT6) antagonist GSK-742457 could reverse the PCP-induced deficits. All drugs were administered subcutaneously (s.c.). MK-801 did not impair reversal learning, while PCP (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) induced a clear deficit in reversal learning. Both compounds, however, disrupted extinction at all tested doses. Risperidone and clozapine were both ineffective in significantly ameliorating the PCP-induced deficit in reversal learning which fits well with the clinical observations. The lowest dose of clozapine (1.25 mg/kg) had an intermediate effect in ameliorating the deficit in reversal learning induced by PCP (not different from control or PCP-treated rats). The lowest dose of GSK-742457 (0.63 mg/kg) fully reversed the PCP-induced deficits while the higher dose (5.0 mg/kg) had an intermediate effect.

A novel highly selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist attenuates ethanol and nicotine seeking but does not affect inhibitory response control in Wistar rats.

Recent studies suggest a potential role for 5-hydroxytryptamine(6) (5-HT(6)) receptors in the regulation of addictive behavior. In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether the novel highly selective 5-HT(6) receptor antagonist compound (CMP) 42 affected nicotine and ethanol seeking behavior in Wistar rats. We have also studied whether CMP 42 had beneficial effects in a model of impulse control, as measured in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). Rats were trained to nose poke to receive intravenous infusions of nicotine or an ethanol drop. CMP 42 (3-30 mg/kg intraperitoneally, i.p.) was administered to investigate the effects on nicotine self-administration. Rats were also tested for cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine and ethanol seeking. In addition, the effects of CMP 42 were studied on the number of anticipatory responses in the 5-CSRTT. CMP 42 was effective in reducing nicotine self-administration and reinstatement of nicotine seeking at a dose of 30 mg/kg (i.p.). CMP 42 was also effective in reducing reinstatement of ethanol seeking (30 mg/kg i.p.). In contrast, CMP 42 did not affect anticipatory responding at doses tested, indicating no effects on impulse control. These results add to a body of evidence implicating the 5-HT(6) receptor as a viable target for the control of drug abuse. Specifically, we demonstrated for the first time effects on nicotine self-administration and on nicotine and ethanol reinstatement. Further, these effects are probably not mediated by effects on impulse control.

The 5-HT6 serotonin receptor antagonist SB-271046 attenuates the development and expression of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitisation in Wistar rats.

5-HT(6) receptors are almost exclusively expressed in the central nervous system, particularly in areas relevant for addictive behaviour. Based on this, together with other data, this receptor may be a viable target for the control of drug abuse. The present study tested the ability of the 5-HT(6) receptor antagonist SB-271046 to attenuate the development and expression of nicotine-induced behavioural sensitisation. Rats were habituated to the test apparatus prior to experimentation (day 0) and locomotor activity recorded. On days 1 and 5, animals were placed in locomotor test apparatus and after 30 min injected with SB-271046 (1, 3, and 6 mg/kg, intraperitoneally IP) or vehicle. Thirty minutes later, nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, subcutaneously SC) or saline were administered and activity recorded for 60 min. On days 2, 3 and 4 treatments were performed in the home cage. After 17 days of withdrawal (day 23), a challenge test was performed with nicotine (0.4 mg/kg SC) or saline. In a separate experiment of similar design the effects of SB-271046 (1, 3, and 6 mg/kg IP) was tested for its ability to reduce the expression of behavioural sensitisation (day 23). SB-271046 dose dependently reduced the development and expression of nicotine sensitisation vs respective controls. In conclusion, the 5-HT(6) receptor antagonist SB-271046 reduced both the development and expression of nicotine sensitisation, suggesting that the 5-HT(6) receptor may be a viable target for the control of nicotine abuse. Further studies are warranted to substantiate this conclusion and further understand the role of 5-HT(6) receptors in addiction.

SLV330, a cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist, attenuates ethanol and nicotine seeking and improves inhibitory response control in rats.

Cannabinoid CB(1) receptor (CB(1)R) signaling has been shown to play a role in the regulation of addictive behavior. In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether the CB(1)R antagonist SLV330 could reduce ethanol and nicotine self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement of ethanol and nicotine seeking behavior in Wistar rats. In operant chambers, rats were learned to emit a specific response (nose poke) in order to receive an ethanol solution or intravenous injections of nicotine. Discrete light and tone cues were presented during ethanol and nicotine delivery. These cues are particularly important for drug self-administration behavior and, through Pavlovian conditioning, acquire conditioned reinforcing and motivational properties and are therefore able to generate and maintain drug-seeking behavior. Subsequently, the CB(1)R antagonist SLV330 (doses ranging from 1 to 10mg/kg, given orally, p.o.) was administered to investigate the effects on drug self-administration. In addition, responding for ethanol and nicotine was extinguished. Then, the animals were tested for cue-induced reinstatement of ethanol and nicotine seeking and treated with vehicle or SLV330. Finally, the effects of SLV330 were studied on the number of anticipatory responses in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) in order to determine whether this compound could also increase impulse control in Wistar rats. The CB(1) antagonist SLV330 was effective in reducing ethanol self-administration at a lowest effective dose (LED) of 10mg/kg (p.o.) and reinstatement of ethanol seeking at a LED of 3mg/kg (p.o.). SLV330 was also effective in reducing nicotine self-administration and reinstatement of nicotine seeking, although at a LED of 10mg/kg (p.o.). Finally, SLV330 decreased time delay-dependent anticipatory responding (LED of 3.0mg/kg, p.o.), indicating an increased inhibitory control. These findings are in agreement with results reported with other CB(1) antagonists. The combined action of reducing the reinforcing and motivational properties of nicotine and alcohol and the improvement of impulse control supports the idea that the cannabinoid system is a promising target for anti-relapse medication.

Dopamine characteristics in rat genotypes with distinct susceptibility to epileptic activity: apomorphine-induced stereotyped gnawing and novelty/amphetamine-induced locomotor stimulation.

Rat genotypes differ in their susceptibility to spontaneously occurring spike-wave discharges and in their dopaminergic properties. In a previous study, it was found that spike-wave discharge incidence decreased in the following order in four rat genotypes during baseline and following injection with the dopamine antagonist haloperidol: apomorphine-susceptible (APO-SUS) > WAG/Rij > apomorphine-unsusceptible (APO-UNSUS) and ACI rats. The question in the present study was to what extent certain dopaminergic properties are pathognomonic for epileptic rats. Therefore, behavioral responses were assessed in order to investigate the dopaminergic properties in the four rat genotypes. Apomorphine-induced gnawing data imply that the dopamine activity of the nigrostriatal system in the WAG/Rij rats is higher than in APO-SUS but lower than in the ACI and APO-UNSUS rats. Furthermore, in previous studies APO-SUS have been shown to have a higher novelty/amphetamine-induced locomotion, indicative of a higher dopamine reactivity of the mesolimbic system as compared to APO-UNSUS rats. Results from the present study showed that WAG/Rij rats have a higher locomotor responsiveness to novelty/amphetamine, indicating a higher dopamine reactivity of the mesolimbic system in comparison to the ACI rats. It is suggested that the functional dopaminergic mesolimbic dominance is an important factor in the susceptibility to show spontaneously occurring spike-wave discharges.

Combined uridine and choline administration improves cognitive deficits in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Rationale. Hypertension is considered a risk factor for the development of cognitive disorders, because of its negative effects on cerebral vasculature and blood flow. Genetically induced hypertension in rats has been associated with a range of cognitive impairments. Therefore, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) can potentially be used as a model for cognitive deficits in human subjects. Consecutively, it can be determined whether certain food components can improve cognition in these rats. Objective. The present study aimed to determine whether SHR display specific deficits in attention, learning, and memory function. Additionally, effects of chronic uridine and choline administration were studied. Methods. 5-7 months old SHR were compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. (a) The operant delayed non-matching-to-position (DNMTP) test was used to study short-term memory function. (b) The five-choice serial reaction time (5-CSRT) task was used to assess selective visual attention processes. (c) Finally, the Morris water maze (MWM) acquisition was used as a measure for spatial learning and mnemonic capabilities. Results. (1) SHR exhibited significantly impaired performance in the 5-CSRT test in comparison with the two other rat strains. Both the SHR and WKY showed deficits in spatial learning when compared with the SD rats. (2) Uridine and choline supplementation normalized performance of SHR in the 5-CSRT test. (3) In addition, uridine and choline treatment improved MWM acquisition in both WKY and SHR rats. Conclusion. The present results show that the SHR have a deficiency in visual selective attention and spatial learning. Therefore, the SHR may provide an interesting model in the screening of substances with therapeutic potential for treatment of cognitive disorders. A combination of uridine and choline administration improved selective attention and spatial learning in SHR.