Concomitant stress potentiates the preference for, and consumption of, ethanol induced by chronic pre-exposure to ethanol

Ethanol abuse is linked to several acute and chronic injuries that can lead to health problems. Ethanol addiction is one of the most severe diseases linked to the abuse of this drug. Symptoms of ethanol addiction include compulsive substance intake and withdrawal syndrome. Stress exposure has an important role in addictive behavior for many drugs of abuse (including ethanol), but the consequences of stress and ethanol in the organism when these factors are concomitant results in a complex interaction. We investigated the effects of concomitant, chronic administration of ethanol and stress exposure on the withdrawal and consumption of, as well as the preference for, ethanol in mice. Male Swiss mice (30-35 g, 8-10 per group) were exposed to an ethanol liquid diet as the only source of food for 15 days. In the final 5 days, they were exposed to forced swimming stress. Twelve hours after removal of the ethanol liquid diet, animals were evaluated for ethanol withdrawal by measuring anxiety-related behaviors and locomotor activity. Twenty-four hours after evaluation of ethanol withdrawal, they were evaluated for voluntary consumption of ethanol in a "three-bottle choice" paradigm. Mice exposed to chronic consumption of ethanol had decreased locomotor activity during withdrawal. Contrary to our expectations, a concomitant forced swimming stress did not aggravate ethanol withdrawal. Nevertheless, simultaneous ethanol administration and stress exposure increased voluntary consumption of ethanol, mainly solutions containing high concentrations of ethanol. These results showed that stressful situations during ethanol intake may aggravate specific addiction-related behaviors.

Effects of simultaneous exposure to stress and nicotine on nicotine-induced locomotor activation in adolescent and adult rats

Preclinical studies have shown that repeated stress experiences can result in an increase in the locomotor response to the subsequent administration of drugs of abuse, a phenomenon that has been termed behavioral cross-sensitization. Behavioral sensitization reflects neuroadaptive processes associated with drug addiction and drug-induced psychosis. Although cross-sensitization between stress- and drug-induced locomotor activity has been clearly demonstrated in adult rats, few studies have evaluated this phenomenon in adolescent rats. In the present study, we determined if the simultaneous exposure to stress and nicotine was capable of inducing behavioral sensitization to nicotine in adolescent and adult rats. To this end, adolescent (postnatal day (P) 28-37) and adult (P60-67) rats received nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, sc) or saline (0.9 percent NaCl, sc) and were immediately subjected to restraint stress for 2 h once a day for 7 days. The control group for stress was undisturbed following nicotine or saline injections. Three days after the last exposure to stress and nicotine, rats were challenged with a single dose of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, sc) or saline and nicotine-induced locomotion was then recorded for 30 min. In adolescent rats, nicotine caused behavioral sensitization only in animals that were simultaneously exposed to stress, while in adult rats nicotine promoted sensitization independently of stress exposure. These findings demonstrate that adolescent rats are more vulnerable to the effects of stress on behavioral sensitization to nicotine than adult rats.

Effects of simultaneous exposure to stress and nicotine on nicotine-induced locomotor activation in adolescent and adult rats.

Preclinical studies have shown that repeated stress experiences can result in an increase in the locomotor response to the subsequent administration of drugs of abuse, a phenomenon that has been termed behavioral cross-sensitization. Behavioral sensitization reflects neuroadaptive processes associated with drug addiction and drug-induced psychosis. Although cross-sensitization between stress- and drug-induced locomotor activity has been clearly demonstrated in adult rats, few studies have evaluated this phenomenon in adolescent rats. In the present study, we determined if the simultaneous exposure to stress and nicotine was capable of inducing behavioral sensitization to nicotine in adolescent and adult rats. To this end, adolescent (postnatal day (P) 28-37) and adult (P60-67) rats received nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, sc) or saline (0.9% NaCl, sc) and were immediately subjected to restraint stress for 2 h once a day for 7 days. The control group for stress was undisturbed following nicotine or saline injections. Three days after the last exposure to stress and nicotine, rats were challenged with a single dose of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, sc) or saline and nicotine-induced locomotion was then recorded for 30 min. In adolescent rats, nicotine caused behavioral sensitization only in animals that were simultaneously exposed to stress, while in adult rats nicotine promoted sensitization independently of stress exposure. These findings demonstrate that adolescent rats are more vulnerable to the effects of stress on behavioral sensitization to nicotine than adult rats.

Effect of cocaine on periadolescent rats with or without early maternal separation

Cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization and weight loss were investigated in periadolescent Wistar rats kept with their mothers or subjected to repeated maternal separation. Litters allocated to the separation procedure were placed in a temperature-controlled (33ºC) chamber for 3 h per day from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P20. Non-handled rats were left undisturbed until weaning. Treatments were started on P30-31 and the test was performed on P36-37. Animals received injections of saline or cocaine (10 mg/kg, sc) twice daily for 5 days. On day 6 all animals received saline. On day 7 animals were challenged with 10 mg/kg cocaine and their locomotion was evaluated in activity cages. A third group received saline throughout the 7-day period. Body weights were recorded on P30-31 and P36-37. Two-way ANOVA on body weights showed a main effect of treatment group (F(1,35) = 10.446, P = 0.003; N = 10-12). Non-handled rats treated with cocaine for 5 days gained significantly less weight, while no significant effect was observed in maternally separated rats. Two-way ANOVA revealed a main effect of drug treatment on locomotor activity (F(2,32) = 15.209, P<0.001; N = 6-8), but not on rearing condition (F(1,32)<0.001, P = 0.998). Animals pretreated with cocaine showed a clear behavioral sensitization relative to the saline group. No difference in the magnitude of sensitization was found between separated and non-handled animals. Only the effect of cocaine on weight gain was significantly affected by repeated episodes of early maternal separation during the pre-weaning period

Solubility of solid dispersions of pizotifen malate and povidone.

We analyzed the physicochemical characteristics of solid dispersions of pizotifen malate and povidone (Kollidon 12) at different proportions; we used X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tested the solubility of the solid dispersions in equilibrium. The results were compared with findings for physical mixtures with the same proportions. A solid dispersion with a drug proportion of 16%-17% formed a eutectic mixture. Solubility of pizotifen malate increased with the proportion of drug in the solid dispersion up to a drug:polymer ratio of 40:60. The hydrotropic effect of the polymer also favored solubility: In physical mixtures, this effect was greatest at a drug:polymer ratio of 10:90; solubility at this proportion was equal to that of the solid dispersion at the same proportion.

Changes in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus catecholaminergic activity after acute and chronic morphine administration.

The participation of hypothalamic noradrenaline in the expression of neuroendocrine signs of morphine withdrawal has been proposed. The present study in rats examined: (1) the relationships between corticosterone secretion and the possible modifications in noradrenaline and dopamine content and turnover in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus after acute and chronic morphine administration; (2) the changes in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in the paraventricular nucleus after the same treatments. The results showed that acute morphine injection in control rats increased corticosterone release, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG) production, and noradrenaline turnover. Dopamine turnover in the paraventricular nucleus was decreased and the cAMP levels remained unchanged. In chronic morphine-treated rats, there was no elevation in noradrenaline turnover or in corticosterone secretion, indicating that tolerance developed to the acute effects of the opioid. Correspondingly, no alterations in dopamine turnover were observed when chronic morphine-treated rats were compared with control rats acutely injected with morphine. cAMP levels in the paraventricular nucleus were unchanged during the tolerant state. The results raise the possibility that noradrenergic afferents play a significant role in the alterations of paraventricular nucleus function and pituitary-adrenal axis activity in response to acute and chronic morphine and suggest that these modifications are not mediated through adenylate cyclase activation. The present data provide further support for the idea of adaptive changes in noradrenergic neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus during chronic morphine exposure.

Catecholaminergic activity and 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentrations in the right ventricle after acute and chronic morphine administration in the rat.

We have examined possible regulation of norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations and turnover in the right ventricle of the rat after acute administration of saline i.p. or morphine 30 mg kg-1 i.p. to placebo (naïve) or morphine (tolerant) pretreated rats. We also assessed concentrations of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the right ventricle after the same treatments. Concentrations of catecholamines and their metabolites in the heart were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC/DE). Concentrations of cAMP in the heart were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Administration of morphine to naïve rats did not modify concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), normetanephrine (NMN) or NMN/NE ratio in the right ventricle. However, dopamine concentrations increased whereas dopamine turnover decreased. In addition, cAMP concentrations decreased after acute administration morphine to naïve rats. In rats pretreated with morphine chronically, there was an increase in norepinephrine concentrations with no change in normetanephrine concentrations or norepinephrine turnover after acute injection of morphine. In contrast, dopamine turnover increased in the tolerant groups after acute injection of saline or morphine compared with the nave group given morphine, indicating that tolerance develops to the acute effects of the opioid. Concentrations of cAMP increased after chronic morphine administration. Our results demonstrate that chronic morphine pretreatment leads to up-regulation of the cAMP system in the heart and suggest that this up-regulation may be involved in the cellular mechanisms implicated in the adaptive changes of dopaminergic neurones in the heart observed during chronic treatment with morphine.

[Pseudotumoral hepatic tuberculosis]. / Tuberculosis hepática pseudotumoral.

Liver infection as a result of tuberculosis is well known; there are several histological lesions, the most important being epithelioid cell granuloma. There are 3 anatomo-clinic variants: military or micronodular type, macronodular or pseudotumoral and pericanalicular of cholestatic. A case of a 66 year old male with a diagnosis of hepatic pseudotumoral tuberculosis, confirmed by means of a laparoscopy, is presented. The rareness of this particular presentation is discussed, as well as the difficult diagnosis due to confusion with primary or metastatic tumors of the liver.