Pitolisant, a wake-promoting agent devoid of psychostimulant properties: Preclinical comparison with amphetamine, modafinil, and solriamfetol.

Several therapeutic options are currently available to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients suffering from narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea. However, there are no comparisons between the various wake-promoting agents in terms of mechanism of action, efficacy, or safety. The goal of this study was to compare amphetamine, modafinil, solriamfetol, and pitolisant at their known primary pharmacological targets, histamine H3 receptors (H3R), dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters, and in various in vivo preclinical models in relation to neurochemistry, locomotion, behavioral sensitization, and food intake. Results confirmed that the primary pharmacological effect of amphetamine, modafinil, and solriamfetol was to increase central dopamine neurotransmission, in part by inhibiting its transporter. Furthermore, solriamfetol increased levels of extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, and decreased the 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC)/DA ratio in the striatum, as reported for modafinil and amphetamine. All these compounds produced hyperlocomotion, behavioral sensitization, and hypophagia, which are common features of psychostimulants and of compounds with abuse potential. In contrast, pitolisant, a selective and potent H3R antagonist/inverse agonist that promotes wakefulness, had no effect on striatal dopamine, locomotion, or food intake. In addition, pitolisant, devoid of behavioral sensitization by itself, attenuated the hyperlocomotion induced by either modafinil or solriamfetol. Therefore, pitolisant presents biochemical, neurochemical, and behavioral profiles different from those of amphetamine and other psychostimulants such as modafinil or solriamfetol. In conclusion, pitolisant is a differentiated therapeutic option, when compared with psychostimulants, for the treatment of EDS, as this agent does not show any amphetamine-like properties within in vivo preclinical models.

Central deficiency of norepinephrine synthesis and norepinephrinergic neurotransmission contributes to seizure-induced respiratory arrest.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with intractable epilepsy. However, the pathogenesis of SUDEP seems to be poorly understood. Our previous findings showed that the incidence of seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) was markedly reduced by atomoxetine in a murine SUDEP model. Because the central norepinephrine α-1 receptor (NEα-1R) plays a vital role in regulating respiratory function, we hypothesized that the suppression of S-IRA by atomoxetine was mediated by NE/NEα-1R interactions that can be reversed by NEα-1R antagonism. We examined whether atomoxetine-mediated suppression of S-IRA evoked by either acoustic stimulation or pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in DBA/1 mice can be reversed by intraperitoneal (IP) and intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of prazosin, a selective antagonist of NEα-1R. The content and activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme for NE synthesis, in the lower brainstem was measured by ELISA. Electroencephalograms (EEG) were obtained from using the PTZ-evoked SUDEP model. In our models, atomoxetine-mediated suppression of S-IRA evoked by either acoustic stimulation or PTZ was significantly reversed by low doses of IP and ICV prazosin. Neither repetitive acoustic stimulation nor S-IRA reduced TH levels in lower brainstem. However, the enzyme activity of TH levels in lower brainstem was significantly increased by mechanical ventilation with DBA/1 mice, which makes the dying DBA/1 mice suffering from S-IRA and SUDEP recover. EEG data showed that although the protective effect of atomoxetine was reversed by prazosin, neither drug suppressed EEG activity. These data suggest that deficient synthesis of NE and norepinephrinergic neurotransmission contributed to S-IRA and that the NEα-1R is a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of SUDEP.

Loss of diffuse noxious inhibitory control after traumatic brain injury in rats: A chronic issue.

Chronic pain is one of the most challenging and debilitating symptoms to manage after traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The disruption of normal endogenous pain control mechanisms has been linked to several forms of chronic pain and may play a role in pain after TBI. We hypothesized therefore that dysfunctional descending noradrenergic and serotonergic pain control circuits may contribute to the loss of diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC), a critical endogenous pain control mechanism, weeks to months after TBI. For these studies, the rat lateral fluid percussion model of mild TBI was used along with a DNIC paradigm involving a capsaicin-conditioning stimulus. We observed sustained failure of the DNIC response up to 180-days post injury. We confirmed, that descending α2 adrenoceptor-mediated noradrenergic signaling was critical for endogenous pain inhibition in uninjured rats. However, augmenting descending noradrenergic signaling using reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, failed to restore DNIC after TBI. Furthermore, blocking serotonin-mediated descending signaling using selective spinal serotonergic fiber depletion with 5, 7-dihydroxytryptamine was also unsuccessful at restoring endogenous pain modulation after TBI. Unexpectedly, increasing descending serotonergic signaling using the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor duloxetine restored the DNIC response in TBI rats at both 49- and 180- days post injury. Consistent with these observations, spinal serotonergic fiber depletion with 5, 7-dihydroxytryptamine eliminated the effects of escitalopram. Intact α2 adrenoceptor signaling, however, was not required for the serotonin-mediated restoration of DNIC after TBI. These results suggest that TBI causes maladaptation of descending nociceptive signaling mechanisms and changes in the function of both adrenergic and serotonergic circuits. Such changes could predispose those with TBI to chronic pain.

Functional ultrasound imaging to study brain dynamics: Application of pharmaco-fUS to atomoxetine.

Functional ultrasound (fUS) is a new tool enabling the imaging of brain activity through the regional monitoring of cerebral blood volume (CBV) dynamics. This innovative technique has not yet demonstrated its full potential in pharmacological applications and drug development. In the current proof-of-concept study, the impact of atomoxetine (ATX), a potent norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and non-stimulant treatment marketed in attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, was evaluated in anesthetized rat using pharmacological functional ultrasound (pharmaco-fUS) at increasing doses (0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg). Using regions of interest (acute changes of CBV and functional connectivity) or pixel-based (general linear modeling and independent component analysis) analysis, we here demonstrated that ATX consistently displayed a hemodynamic effect in the visual cortex, the dentate gyrus and thalamus, especially visual areas such as lateral posterior thalamic nuclei and lateral geniculate nuclei (LGN). The time profile of ATX effects was dose-dependent, with fastest CBV increases at the highest dose, and longer CBV increases at the intermediate dose. Standardizing the use of pharmaco-fUS could improve our understanding of the mechanism of action of drugs active in the brain and might constitute a new step to move forward in drug development for neurological disorders.

Effect of Atropine on Adrenergic Responsiveness of Erythrocyte and Heart Rhythm Variability in Outbred Rats with Stimulation of the Central Neurotransmitter Systems.

Single injection of muscarinic cholinoceptor blocker atropine (1 mg/kg) to outbred male rats reduced ß-adrenergic responsiveness of erythrocytes (by 2.2 times) and the content of epinephrine granules on erythrocytes (by 1.5 times), significantly increased HR and rigidity of the heart rhythm, and manifold decreased the power of all spectral components of heart rhythm variability. Stimulation of the central neurotransmitter systems increased ß-adrenergic responsiveness of erythrocytes (by 15-26%), decreased the number of epinephrine granules on erythrocytes (by 25-40%), and increased HR and cardiac rhythm intensity. These changes were most pronounced after stimulation of the serotoninergic system. Administration of atropine against the background of activation of central neurotransmitter systems did not decrease ß-adrenergic responsiveness of erythrocytes (this parameter remained at a stably high level and even increased during stimulation of the dopaminergic system), but decreased the number of epinephrine granules on erythrocytes, increased HR, and dramatically decreased the power of all components of heart rhythm variability spectrum. The response to atropine was maximum against the background of noradrenergic system activation and less pronounced during stimulation of the serotoninergic system. Thus, substances that are complementary to cholinergic receptors modulated adrenergic effect on the properties of red blood cells, which, in turn, can modulate the adrenergic influences on the heart rhythm via the humoral channel of regulation. Stimulation of central neurotransmitter systems that potentiates the growth of visceral adrenergic responsiveness weakens the cholinergic modulation of the adrenergic influences, especially with respect to erythrocyte responsiveness. Hence, changes in the neurotransmitter metabolism in the body can lead to coupled modulation of reception and reactivity to adrenergic- and choline-like regulatory factors at the level of erythrocyte membranes, which can be important for regulation of heart rhythm.

Risk of suicide attempts in adolescents and young adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a nationwide longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the risk of suicidal behaviours through psychiatric comorbidities; however, a significant direct association has not been observed between ADHD and suicide attempts. Aims To evaluate the risk of suicide attempt in adolescents and young adults with ADHD. METHOD: Using a nationwide, population-based insurance claims database, this longitudinal cohort study enrolled 20 574 adolescents and young adults with ADHD and 61 722 age- and gender-matched controls between 2001 and 2009. Any suicide attempt was identified from enrolment to 31 December 2011. The association between ADHD medications and the likelihood of suicide attempt was assessed. RESULTS: ADHD was an independent risk factor for any suicide attempt (hazard ratio = 3.84, 95% CI = 3.19-4.62) and repeated suicide attempts (hazard ratio = 6.52, 95% CI = 4.46-9.53). Subgroup analyses of men, women, adolescents and young adults demonstrated the same trend. Methylphenidate or atomoxetine treatment did not increase the risk of suicide attempt or repeated suicide attempts. Long-term methylphenidate treatment was associated with a significantly decreased risk of repeated suicide attempts in men (hazard ratio = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.22-0.97). CONCLUSION: ADHD was a risk factor for suicide attempt and a stronger predictor of repeated suicide attempts, independent of comorbidities. Further investigation is warranted to explore the mechanism underlying the association between ADHD and suicidal behaviours. Declaration of interest None.

The effect of atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, on respiratory arrest and cardiorespiratory function in the DBA/1 mouse model of SUDEP.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a significant public health burden. The mechanisms of SUDEP are elusive, although cardiorespiratory dysfunction is a likely contributor. Clinical and animal studies indicate that seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) is the primary event leading to death in many SUDEP cases. Our prior studies demonstrated that intraperitoneal (IP) injection of atomoxetine, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI) widely used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, suppresses S-IRA in DBA/1 mice. In the current study, we injected atomoxetine intracerebroventricularly (ICV) and measured its effect on S-IRA in DBA/1 mice to determine its central effects. Additionally, to test our hypothesis that atomoxetine reduces S-IRA via altering cardiorespiratory function, we examined the effect of atomoxetine on respiratory and cardiac function using non-invasive plethysmography and ECG in anesthetized DBA/1 mice, and on blood pressure and heart rate using a tail-cuff system in conscious DBA/1 mice. ICV administration of atomoxetine at 200-250nmol significantly reduced S-IRA evoked by acoustic stimulation in DBA/1 mice, consistent with a central atomoxetine effect on S-IRA. Peripheral atomoxetine administration at a dosage that reduces S-IRA (15mg/kg, IP) slightly increased basal ventilation and the ventilatory response to 7% CO2, but exerted no effect on heart rate in anesthetized DBA/1 mice. IP injection of atomoxetine produced no effect on the heart rate and blood pressures in conscious mice. These data suggest that atomoxetine suppresses S-IRA through direct effects on the CNS and potentially through enhanced lung ventilation in DBA/1 mice.

Pharmacological treatment of tardive dyskinesia: recent developments.

INTRODUCTION: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) occurs in patients receiving antipsychotic treatment with dopamine receptor antagonists. Despite the prevalence of TD and its negative impact on patients' lives, there has been a lack of approved treatments and limited evidence from controlled trials of pharmacological treatment. Areas covered: PubMed was searched for English-language papers published during 2007-2016 using terms 'tardive dyskinesia' or 'drug-induced movement disorder', and 'treatment'. Studies evaluating pharmacological agents for the treatment of TD were selected. A total of 26 studies (five meta-analyses, twelve randomized controlled trials, and nine open-label observational studies) are reviewed. Expert commentary: Treatment of TD necessitates a stepwise approach. Optimization of antipsychotic therapy should be considered before initiation of antidyskinetic therapies. Data from some recent studies indicate possible improvements in TD after switching antipsychotics or with the use of amantadine, levetiracetam, piracetam, zonisamide, propranolol, vitamin B6, or certain unregulated herbal medicines; although significance of these improvements is unclear and require further investigation in randomized controlled trials. By contrast, recent evidence from Phase III trials of novel vesicular monoamine transporter-2 inhibitors demonstrates they could have a significant effect on TD symptom severity and suggests these agents may have the potential to transform treatment of TD in coming years.

Effect of NMDAR antagonists in the tetrabenazine test for antidepressants: comparison with the tail suspension test.

OBJECTIVE: The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine, produces rapid and enduring antidepressant effect in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Similar dramatic effects have not been observed in clinical trials with other NMDAR antagonists indicating ketamine may possess unique pharmacological properties. Tetrabenazine induces ptosis (a drooping of the eyelids), and the reversal of this effect, attributed to a sympathomimetic action, has been used to detect first-generation antidepressants, as well as ketamine. Because the actions of other NMDAR antagonists have not been reported in this measure, we examined whether reversal of tetrabenazine-induced ptosis was unique to ketamine, or a class effect of NMDAR antagonists. METHODS: The effects of ketamine and other NMDAR antagonists to reverse tetrabenazine-induced ptosis were examined and compared with their antidepressant-like effects in the tail suspension test (TST) in mice. RESULTS: All the NMDAR antagonists tested produced a partial reversal of tetrabenazine-induced ptosis and, as expected, reduced immobility in the TST. Ketamine, memantine, MK-801 and AZD6765 were all about half as potent in reversing tetrabenazine-induced ptosis compared to reducing immobility in the TST, while an NR2B antagonist (Ro 25-6981) and a glycine partial agonist (ACPC) were equipotent in both tests. CONCLUSION: The ability to reverse tetrabenazine-induced ptosis is a class effect of NMDAR antagonists. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the inability of memantine, AZD6765 (lanicemine) and MK-0657 to reproduce the rapid and robust antidepressant effects of ketamine in the clinic result from insufficient dosing rather than a difference in mechanism of action among these NMDAR antagonists.

The effects of atomoxetine on emotional control in adults with ADHD: An integrated analysis of multicenter studies.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of atomoxetine on emotional control in adults with ADHD. METHODS: We performed an integrated analysis using individual patient data pooled from three Eli Lilly-sponsored studies. An integrated analysis can be viewed as a meta-analysis of individual patient-level data, rather than study-level summary data. RESULTS: Two populations were identified: a large sample of patients with pre-treatment baseline data (the "overall population"; n=2846); and a subset of these patients with placebo-controlled efficacy data from baseline to 10 or 12 weeks after initiating treatment (the "placebo-controlled population"; n=829). At baseline, in the overall population, ∼50% of ADHD patients had BRIEF-AS (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version Self-Report) Emotional control subscores between 21 and 30, compared with ∼10% of normative subjects in the BRIEF-A manual. At endpoint, in the placebo-controlled population, atomoxetine led to a small (effect size 0.19) but significant (P=0.013) treatment effect for emotional control. The effect size was 0.32 in patients with BRIEF-AS Emotional control scores>20 at baseline. Improvements in emotional control correlated with improvements in the core ADHD symptoms and quality-of-life. DISCUSSION: As deficient emotional control is associated with impaired social, educational and occupational functioning over and above that explained by core ADHD symptoms alone, improvements in emotional control may be clinically relevant. CONCLUSION: At baseline, adults with ADHD were more likely to have impaired emotional control than normative subjects. In the adult ADHD patients, atomoxetine treatment was associated with improvements in emotional control, as well as in core ADHD symptoms and quality-of-life.

Leptin receptor deficiency confers resistance to behavioral effects of fluoxetine and desipramine via separable substrates.

Depression is a complex, heterogeneous mental disorder. Currently available antidepressants are only effective in about one-third to one-half of all patients. The mechanisms underlying antidepressant response and treatment resistance are poorly understood. Recent clinical evidence implicates the involvement of leptin in treatment response to antidepressants. In this study, we determined the functional role of the leptin receptor (LepRb) in behavioral responses to the selective serotonergic antidepressant fluoxetine and the noradrenergic antidepressant desipramine. While acute and chronic treatment with fluoxetine or desipramine in wild-type mice elicited antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test, mice null for LepRb (db/db) displayed resistance to treatment with either fluoxetine or desipramine. Fluoxetine stimulated phosphorylation of Akt(Thr308) and GSK-3ß(Ser9) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of wild-type mice but not in db/db mice. Desipramine failed to induce measurable changes in Akt, GSK-3ß or ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the hippocampus and PFC, as well as hypothalamus of either genotype of mice. Deletion of LepRb specifically from hippocampal and cortical neurons resulted in fluoxetine insensitivity in the forced swim test and tail suspension test while leaving the response to desipramine intact. These results suggest that functional LepRb is critically involved in regulating the antidepressant-like behavioral effects of both fluoxetine and desipramine. The antidepressant effects of fluoxetine but not desipramine are dependent on the presence of functional LepRb in the hippocampus and cortex.

The effects of atomoxetine and methylphenidate on the prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response in mice.

Atomoxetine (ATM) and methylphenidate (MPD) have been used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ATM is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, whereas MPD is a psychostimulant and acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ATM (1, 3 or 10mg/kg) and MPD (5, 10 or 20mg/kg) on pharmacological mouse models of sensorimotor gating measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) using the acoustic startle response test. MK-801, a non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, or apomorphine, a non-competitive dopamine receptor agonist, was used to induce PPI deficits. ATM (3 or 10mg/kg, s.c.) significantly attenuated the MK-801-, but not apomorphine-, induced PPI deficits. In contrast to ATM, MPD did not reverse the PPI deficits induced by either MK-801 or apomorphine. Immunostaining revealed that the number of c-Fos-immunopositive cells was increased in the nucleus accumbens following MK-801 treatment, and this was reversed by the administration of ATM (3mg/kg), but not MPD (10mg/kg). However, neither ATM nor MPD reversed the increased number of c-Fos-immunopositive cells in the nucleus accumbens following apomorphine treatment. These results suggest that the attenuating effect of ATM on the increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumbens induced by MK-801 may be attributed to the PPI deficit-ameliorating effects of ATM and that ATM would be useful to treat sensorimotor gating-related disorders by improving the patient's attention span or cognitive function.

Antidepressant properties of aqueous macerate from Gladiolus dalenii corms.

BACKGROUND: Gladiolus dalenii Van Geel (Iridaceae) has been used for the treatment of depression and psychotic disorders in African traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the aqueous extract from the corm of Gladiolus dalenii and its possible mechanisms of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the antidepressant properties of G. dalenii corm aqueous extract in mice, using the open field, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Spontaneous locomotor activity of mice given various doses of G. dalenii extract (per os) was determined in the open field, whereas immobility was evaluated in the other two tests. RESULTS: Extract maximal effect was observed at 15 mg/kg, as mice displayed a marked reduction in immobility time in both the forced swimming test (80%) and the tail suspension test (66%). In further studies aimed at investigating the mechanism of action of G. dalenii extract, the latter significantly antagonized the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 75 mg/kg) at both the doses 15 mg/kg (p<0.001) and 150 mg/kg (p=0.004). A significant reduction in immobility time was also observed following treatment with combinations of a sub-effective dose of extract (7.5 mg/kg) with either the NMDA receptor antagonist D-(-)-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (D-AP7, 50 mg/kg, P< 0.001), the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (5 and 10 mg/kg, P< 0.001 and P< 0.001 respectively), and the multi-target antidepressant imipramine (5 and 10 mg/kg, P< 0.001 and P< 0.001 respectively). Moreover, neither G. dalenii extract alone nor its combinations with NMDA ligands imipramine and fluoxetine enhanced mouse spontaneous locomotor activity. CONCLUSION: Altogether, these results suggest that G. dalenii has antidepressant properties, probably mediated through interactions with NMDA, serotonin and/ or noradrenergic systems, and may justify its use in traditional medicine.

Antidepressant-like action of the hydromethanolic flower extract of Tagetes erecta L. in mice and its possible mechanism of action.

OBJECTIVE: Tagetes erecta, the marigold, has commercial and ethnomedicinal use; however, reports concerning its efficacy for the treatment of depression are lacking. This study was carried out to elucidate the antidepressant effect of hydromethanolic flower extract of T. erecta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hydromethanolic extract of flowers of Tagetes erecta was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. The extract (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) was evaluated for antidepressant effect using forced swim test in mice. The mechanism of antidepressant action was further examined using different drugs and imipramine was used as standard drug. RESULTS: T. erecta significantly inhibited the immobility period in forced swim test in mice P<0.05). T. erecta (25 mg/kg, i.p.) enhanced the anti-immobility effect of antidepressant drugs like imipramine, fluoxetine, and p-chlorophenylalanine, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis significantly attenuated its antidepressant effect. The antidepressant effect of T. erecta in the forced swim test was prevented by pretreatment with L-arginine and sildenafil, whereas pretreatment of mice with nitric oxide synthase inhibitors potentiated the action. Pentazocine, a high-affinity sigma receptor agonist, produced synergism with effective dose of T. erecta while progesterone, a sigma receptor antagonist, reversed the antidepressant effect of T. erecta. However, the locomotor activity was not affected at tested doses. CONCLUSIONS: Serotonergic, nitrergic pathway, and sigma receptors are possibly involved in mediating antidepressant action of T. erecta in mouse forced swim test.

Vasoconstrictor responsiveness during hyperbaric hyperoxia in contracting human muscle.

Large increases in systemic oxygen content cause substantial reductions in exercising forearm blood flow (FBF) due to increased vascular resistance. We hypothesized that 1) functional sympatholysis (blunting of sympathetic α-adrenergic vasoconstriction) would be attenuated during hyperoxic exercise and 2) α-adrenergic blockade would limit vasoconstriction during hyperoxia and increase FBF to levels observed under normoxic conditions. Nine male subjects (age 28 ± 1 yr) performed forearm exercise (20% of maximum) under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions. Studies were performed in a hyperbaric chamber at 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA; sea level) while breathing 21% O(2) and at 2.82 ATA while breathing 100% O(2) (estimated change in arterial O(2) content ∼6 ml O(2)/100 ml). FBF (ml/min) was measured using Doppler ultrasound. Forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated from FBF and blood pressure (arterial catheter). Vasoconstrictor responsiveness was determined using intra-arterial tyramine. FBF and FVC were substantially lower during hyperoxic exercise than normoxic exercise (∼20-25%; P < 0.01). At rest, vasoconstriction to tyramine (% decrease from pretyramine values) did not differ between normoxia and hyperoxia (P > 0.05). During exercise, vasoconstrictor responsiveness was slightly greater during hyperoxia than normoxia (-22 ± 3 vs. -17 ± 2%; P < 0.05). However, during α-adrenergic blockade, hyperoxic exercise FBF and FVC remained lower than during normoxia (P < 0.01). Therefore, our data suggest that although the vasoconstrictor responsiveness during hyperoxic exercise was slightly greater, it likely does not explain the majority of the large reductions in FBF and FVC (∼20-25%) during hyperbaric hyperoxic exercise.

Effects of repeated treatment with MDMA on working memory and behavioural flexibility in mice.

Repeated administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice. However, it is still not clear whether this exposure induces deficits in cognitive processing related to specific subsets of executive functioning. We evaluated the effects of neurotoxic and non-neurotoxic doses of MDMA (0, 3 and 30 mg/kg, twice daily for 4 days) on working memory and attentional set-shifting in mice, and changes in extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) in the striatum. Treatment with MDMA (30 mg/kg) disrupted performance of acquired operant alternation, and this impairment was still apparent 5 days after the last drug administration. Decreased alternation was not related to anhedonia because no differences were observed between groups in the saccharin preference test under similar experimental conditions. Correct responding on delayed alternation was increased 1 day after repeated treatment with MDMA (30 mg/kg), probably because of general behavioural quiescence. Notably, the high dose regimen of MDMA impaired attentional set-shifting related to an increase in total perseveration errors. Finally, basal extracellular levels of DA in the striatum were not modified in mice repeatedly treated with MDMA with respect to controls. However, an acute challenge with MDMA (10 mg/kg) failed to increase DA outflow in mice receiving the highest MDMA dose (30 mg/kg), corroborating a decrease in the functionality of DA transporters. Seven days after this treatment, the effects of MDMA on DA outflow were recovered. These results suggest that repeated neurotoxic doses of MDMA produce lasting impairments in recall of alternation behaviour and reduce cognitive flexibility in mice.

Essential role for orbitofrontal serotonin 1B receptors in obsessive-compulsive disorder-like behavior and serotonin reuptake inhibitor response in mice.

BACKGROUND: Perseveration and sensorimotor gating deficits are core features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT1BR) agonists exacerbate OCD symptoms in patients and induce perseveration and sensorimotor gating deficits in mice. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), but not noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (NRIs), reduce OCD symptoms following 4 to 8 weeks of treatment. Using mice, we compared the effects of chronic SRI versus NRI treatment on 5-HT1BR-induced OCD-like behavior and 5-HT1BR sensitivity in orbitofrontal-subcortical OCD circuits. Furthermore, we localized the 5-HT1BR population that mediates OCD-like behavior. METHODS: Mice chronically received the SRI clomipramine or the NRI desipramine and were examined for 5-HT1BR-induced OCD-like behavior or 5-HT1BR binding and G-protein coupling in caudate putamen, nucleus accumbens, and orbitofrontal cortex. Separate mice were tested for OCD- or depression-like behavior following 4, 14, 21, 28, or 56 days of SRI treatment. Finally, OCD-like behavior was assessed following intra-orbitofrontal 5-HT1BR agonist infusion or intra-orbitofrontal 5-HT1BR antagonist infusion coupled with systemic 5-HT1BR agonist treatment. RESULTS: Effective, but not ineffective, OCD treatments reduced OCD-like behavior in mice with a time course that parallels the delayed therapeutic onset in OCD patients and downregulated 5-HT1BR expression in the orbitofrontal cortex. Intra-orbitofrontal 5-HT1BR agonist infusion induced OCD-like behavior, and intra-orbitofrontal 5-HT1BR antagonist infusion blocked OCD-like effects of systemic 5-HT1BR agonist treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that orbitofrontal 5-HT1BRs are necessary and sufficient to induce OCD-like behavior in mice and that SRI pharmacotherapy reduces OCD-like behavior by desensitizing orbitofrontal 5-HT1BRs. Our findings suggest an essential role for orbitofrontal 5-HT1BRs in OCD pathophysiology and treatment.

The presynaptic component of the serotonergic system is required for clozapine's efficacy.

Clozapine, by virtue of its absence of extrapyramidal side effects and greater efficacy, revolutionized the treatment of schizophrenia, although the mechanisms underlying this exceptional activity remain controversial. Combining an unbiased cheminformatics and physical screening approach, we evaluated clozapine's activity at >2350 distinct molecular targets. Clozapine, and the closely related atypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine, interacted potently with a unique spectrum of molecular targets. This distinct pattern, which was not shared with the typical antipsychotic drug haloperidol, suggested that the serotonergic neuronal system was a key determinant of clozapine's actions. To test this hypothesis, we used pet1(-/-) mice, which are deficient in serotonergic presynaptic markers. We discovered that the antipsychotic-like properties of the atypical antipsychotic drugs clozapine and olanzapine were abolished in a pharmacological model that mimics NMDA-receptor hypofunction in pet1(-/-) mice, whereas haloperidol's efficacy was unaffected. These results show that clozapine's ability to normalize NMDA-receptor hypofunction, which is characteristic of schizophrenia, depends on an intact presynaptic serotonergic neuronal system.

The novel triple reuptake inhibitor JZAD-IV-22 exhibits an antidepressant pharmacological profile without locomotor stimulant or sensitization properties.

Triple reuptake inhibitors (TRIs) that block the dopamine transporter (DAT), norepinephrine transporter, and serotonin transporter are being developed as a new class of antidepressant that may have better efficacy and fewer side effects compared with traditional antidepressants. We describe a novel TRI, 2-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylpiperidin-3-ylmethylsulfanyl]-1-(3-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-ethanone (JZAD-IV-22), that inhibits all three monoamine transporters with approximately equal potency in vitro. (+/-)-1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-azabicyclo-[3.1.0]hexane hydrochloride (DOV 216,303), a TRI shown to be an effective antidepressant in a clinical trial, shows reuptake inhibition similar to that of JZAD-IV-22 in vitro. Furthermore, both JZAD-IV-22 and DOV 216,303 increase levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the mouse prefrontal cortex when administered by peripheral injection. JZAD-IV-22 and DOV 216,303 exhibited antidepressant-like efficacy in the mouse forced-swim and tail-suspension tests at doses that increased neurotransmitter levels. Because development of DAT inhibitors could be hindered by abuse liability, both JZAD-IV-22 and DOV 216,303 were compared in two assays that are markers of abuse potential. Both JZAD-IV-22 and DOV 216,303 partially substituted for cocaine in a drug discrimination assay in rats, and high doses of DOV 216,303 produced locomotor sensitization in mice. JZAD-IV-22 showed no evidence of sensitization at any dose tested. These results demonstrate that JZAD-IV-22 is a TRI with antidepressant-like activity similar to that of DOV 216,303. The striking feature that distinguishes the two TRIs is that locomotor sensitization, a common underlying feature of drugs of abuse, is seen with DOV 216,303 but is completely lacking in JZAD-IV-22. These findings may have implications for the potential for abuse liability in humans.