CRF1 receptor antagonists do not reverse pharmacological disruption of prepulse inhibition in rodents.

RATIONALE: As enhanced corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) transmission is associated with induction of sensorimotor gating deficits, CRF1 receptor antagonists may reverse disrupted prepulse inhibition (PPI), an operational measure of sensorimotor gating. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of CRF1 receptor antagonists in pharmacological models of disrupted PPI and to determine if long-term elevated central CRF levels alter sensitivity towards PPI disrupting drugs. METHODS: CP154,526 (10-40 mg/kg), SSR125543 (3-30 mg/kg) and DMP695 (40 mg/kg) were tested on PPI disruption provoked by D-amphetamine (2.5, 3 mg/kg), ketamine (5, 30 mg/kg) and MK801 (0.2, 0.5 mg/kg) in Wistar rats, C57Bl/6J and CD1 mice, and on spontaneously low PPI in Iffa Credo rats and DBA/2J mice. PPI-disrupting effects of D-amphetamine (2.5-5 mg/kg) and MK801 (0.3-1 mg/kg) were examined in CRF-overexpressing (CRFtg) mice, which display PPI deficits. Finally, we determined the influence of CP154,526 on D-amphetamine-induced dopamine outflow in nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex of CRFtg mice using in vivo microdialysis. RESULTS: No CRF1-antagonists improved PPI deficits in any test. CRFtg mice showed blunted PPI disruption in response to MK801, but not D-amphetamine. Further, D-amphetamine-induced dopamine release was less pronounced in CRFtg versus wild-type mice, a response normalized by pretreatment with CP154,526. CONCLUSION: The inability of CRF1 receptor antagonists to block pharmacological disruption of sensorimotor gating suggests that the involvement of CRF1 receptors in the modulation of dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission relevant for sensory gating is limited. Furthermore, the alterations observed in CRFtg mice support the notion that long-term elevated central CRF levels induce changes in these neurotransmitter systems.

Attenuation of acute d-amphetamine-induced disruption of conflict resolution by clozapine, but not α-flupenthixol in rats.

Previous research demonstrates that disruption of forebrain dopamine systems impairs the use of high-order information to guide goal-directed performance, and that this deficit may be related to impaired use of task-setting cues in patients with schizophrenia. Such deficits can be interrogated through conflict resolution, which has been demonstrated to be sensitive to prefrontal integrity in rodents. We sought to examine the effects of acute systemic d-amphetamine administration on the contextual control of response conflict in rats, and whether deficits were reversed through pre-treatment with clozapine or the D1/D2 antagonist α-flupenthixol. Acute d-amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg) disrupted the utilisation of contextual cues; therefore rats were impaired during presentation of stimulus compounds that require conflict resolution. Evidence suggested that this effect was attenuated through pre-treatment with the atypical antipsychotic clozapine (5.0 mg/kg), but not the typical antipsychotic α-flupenthixol (0.25 mg/kg), at doses previously shown to attenuate d-amphetamine-induced cognitive deficits. These studies therefore demonstrate a potentially viable model of disrupted executive function such as that seen in schizophrenia.

Amphetamine dephosphorylates ERM proteins in the nucleus accumbens core and lithium attenuates its effects.

The ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins have been implicated not only in cell-shape determination but also in cellular signaling pathway. We have previously shown that cocaine decreases phosphorylation levels of these proteins in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), an important brain area mediating addictive behaviors. Here we further revealed that the phosphorylation levels of ERM were decreased in the NAcc core, but not in the shell, by a single injection of amphetamine (AMPH) (2 mg/kg, i.p.). When lithium (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was co-administered with AMPH, the decreases of phosphorylation levels for ERM by AMPH were recovered back to basal levels in the NAcc core. Together, these results suggest that psychomotor stimulants like AMPH regulate phosphorylation levels of ERM in the NAcc core and lithium-involved signaling pathway has a regulatory role in the opposite direction in this site.

Protein kinase C regulates mood-related behaviors and adult hippocampal cell proliferation in rats.

The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology and therapeutics of bipolar disorder are still unknown. In recent years, protein kinase C (PKC) has emerged as a potential key player in mania. To further investigate the role of this signaling system in mood regulation, we examined the effects of PKC modulators in behavioral tests modeling several facets of bipolar disorder and in adult hippocampal cell proliferation in rats. Our results showed that a single injection of the PKC inhibitors tamoxifen (80 mg/kg, i.p.) and chelerythrine (3 mg/kg, s.c.) attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion and decreased risk-taking behavior, supporting the efficacy of PKC blockade in acute mania. Moreover, chronic exposure to tamoxifen (10 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 14 days) or chelerythrine (0.3 mg/kg/day, s.c., for 14 days) caused depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test, and resulted in a reduction of cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Finally, we showed that, contrary to the PKC inhibitors, the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) enhanced risk-taking behavior and induced an antidepressant-like effect. Taken together, these findings support the involvement of PKC in regulating opposite facets of bipolar disorder, and emphasize a major role for PKC in this disease.

N-acetyl cysteine restores brain glutathione loss in combined 2-cyclohexene-1-one and d-amphetamine-treated rats: relevance to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Oxidative stress and reduced brain levels of glutathione have been implicated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a precursor of glutathione and has additional effects on glutamate neurotransmission, neurogenesis and inflammation. While NAC treatment has shown benefits in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the mechanisms of action are largely unknown. Similarly, the interaction between oxidative stress and altered dopaminergic activities in psychiatric illness is not yet characterized. This study investigated the capacity of NAC in restoring brain glutathione depletion in rats that received 2-cyclohexene-1-one (CHX, 75 mg/kg), d-amphetamine (2.5mg/kg) or both. CHX, but not amphetamine, induced significant depletion of glutathione levels in the striatum and frontal cortex. Glutathione depletion was reversed by NAC (1000 mg/kg) in saline-treated and amphetamine-treated (frontal cortex only) rats. While NAC was shown to be beneficial in this model, the lack of additional glutathione depletion by amphetamine in combination with CHX does not support a summative interaction between oxidative stress and altered dopamine transmission.

Minocycline attenuates subjective rewarding effects of dextroamphetamine in humans.

RATIONALE: Minocycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, interacts with brain glutamate and dopamine neurotransmission. In preclinical studies, minocycline attenuated amphetamine-induced acute dopamine release and subsequent behavioral sensitization. The goal of this study was to determine minocycline's effects on the acute physiological, behavioral, and subjective responses to dextroamphetamine (DAMP) in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers participated in an outpatient double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Subjects had a 5-day treatment period with either minocycline (200 mg/day) or placebo and then were crossed over for 5 days of the other treatment. After 2 days of taking the study medication, on days 3 and 4, subjects were randomly assigned to double-blind acute challenge with either 20 mg/70 kg DAMP or placebo DAMP (randomly labeled as drug A or B) and then crossed over to the other challenge. On day 5 (experimental session 3), subjects had the opportunity to self-administer either placebo or DAMP capsules by working on a progressive ratio computer task. RESULTS: Minocycline attenuated DAMP-induced subjective rewarding effects but did not change DAMP choice behavior. Minocycline treatment speeded reaction times on a Go No-Go task and reduced plasma cortisol levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings warrant further studies examining the potential use of minocycline for stimulant addiction.

Effects of asenapine, olanzapine, and risperidone on psychotomimetic-induced reversal-learning deficits in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Asenapine is a new pharmacological agent for the acute treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It has relatively higher affinity for serotonergic and alpha(2)-adrenergic than dopaminergic D(2) receptors. We evaluated the effects of asenapine, risperidone, and olanzapine on acute and subchronic psychotomimetic-induced disruption of cued reversal learning in rats. METHODS: After operant training, rats were treated acutely with d-amphetamine (0.75 mg/kg intraperitoneally [i.p.]) or phencyclidine (PCP; 1.5mg/kg i.p.) or subchronically with PCP (2mg/kg i.p. for 7 days). We assessed the effects of acute coadministration of asenapine, risperidone, or olanzapine on acute d-amphetamine- and PCP-induced deficits and the effects of long-term coadministration of these agents (for 28 additional days) on the deficits induced by subchronic PCP. RESULTS: Deficits in reversal learning induced by acute d-amphetamine were attenuated by risperidone (0.2mg/kg i.p.). Acute PCP-induced impairment of reversal learning was attenuated by acute asenapine (0.025 mg/kg subcutaneously [s.c.]), risperidone (0.2mg/kg i.p.), and olanzapine (1.0mg/kg i.p.). Subchronic PCP administration induced an enduring deficit that was attenuated by acute asenapine (0.075 mg/kg s.c.) and by olanzapine (1.5mg/kg i.p.). Asenapine (0.075 mg/kg s.c.), risperidone (0.2mg/kg i.p.), and olanzapine (1.0mg/kg i.p.) all showed sustained efficacy with chronic (29 days) treatment to improve subchronic PCP-induced impairments. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that asenapine may have beneficial effects in the treatment of cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia. However, this remains to be validated by further clinical evaluation.

The effects of progesterone pretreatment on the response to oral d-amphetamine in Women.

Stimulant abuse continues to be a problem, particularly for women. There is increasing preclinical and clinical evidence showing that the hormone progesterone attenuates the behavioral effects of cocaine, and this effect is primarily observed in females. The purpose of the present study was to determine if progesterone would also alter the behavioral effects of another stimulant, oral d-amphetamine (AMPH) in women. Eighteen normal non-drug abusing women completed eight outpatient sessions over two menstrual cycles. During the follicular phase of each cycle, women were administered AMPH (0, 10, 20 mg); in one cycle they were pretreated with oral micronized progesterone (200 mg) and in another cycle they were pretreated with placebo progesterone. Each session, participants completed a range of tasks including subjective measures of abuse liability, cognitive performance tasks, and behavioral measures of impulsivity and risk-taking. AMPH produced dose-related increases in positive subjective effects and these effects were enhanced by progesterone pretreatment. AMPH alone, or in combination with progesterone, had little effect on performance or behavioral measures of impulsivity. These results are in contrast with previous studies showing that progesterone attenuates the subjective response to cocaine and nicotine. Additional studies are needed to explore the modulatory role of progesterone on the effects of AMPH to determine whether progesterone has any clinical utility for AMPH abuse.

Efficacy of the atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole in d-amphetamine-based preclinical models of mania.

The atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole has been demonstrated to reduce symptoms of bipolar mania. To further profile the antimanic-like properties of aripiprazole in relevant preclinical models, we examined its efficacy in d-amphetamine-based behavioural models of acute mania in rats. The effects of acute and repeated administration of aripiprazole were assessed in the facilitation of intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) and hyperlocomotion after acute d-amphetamine, and in the sensitized facilitation of ICSS function and hyperlocomotion after repeated d-amphetamine. Acutely, aripiprazole (0.75, 1.5 and 2.5 mg/kg i.p.) increased ICSS thresholds, attenuated the reward-facilitating effects of d-amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.), decreased motor activity and prevented d-amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion. Co-administration of aripiprazole and d-amphetamine for 7 d resulted in aripiprazole counteracting the d-amphetamine-induced sensitization in facilitation of brain reward function and hyperlocomotion. These results indicate the efficacy of aripiprazole in d-amphetamine-based preclinical models of acute mania that are characterized by increased motivational drive and/or hyperfunction of brain reward.

Atomoxetine attenuates dextroamphetamine effects in humans.

BACKGROUND: Although preclinical studies support the contribution of the noradrenergic system activation in mediating the acute effects of amphetamines, these findings have not been followed up in clinical studies. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of atomoxetine, a norepinephrine transporter inhibitor, on subjective, physiological, and plasma cortisol responses to dextroamphetamine in 10 healthy volunteers. METHODS: Subjects were randomly assigned to a sequence of atomoxetine (40 mg/day) or placebo treatments each lasting for 4 days. On Day 4 of each treatment period, responses to a single 20 mg/70 kg dose of dextroamphetamine were assessed. RESULTS: Atomoxetine treatment attenuated dextroamphetamine-induced increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and plasma cortisol as well as the self-report ratings of "stimulated," "high," and "good drug effects." CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with previous preclinical studies supporting the role of the noradrenergic system in mediating acute amphetamine responses. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Atomoxetine's capacity to attenuate some of the physiological and subjective responses to dextroamphetamine supports its potential use for stimulant addiction.

Route of administration affects the ability of naltrexone to reduce amphetamine-potentiated brain stimulation reward in rats.

Opioid receptor antagonism has been shown to attenuate behavioral and neurochemical effects of amphetamine in humans and rodents. The effects of acute (oral or subcutaneous) or extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) were tested on the reward-enhancing effects of amphetamine using the intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) paradigm. Acute exposure to drugs of abuse reduces the locus of rise (LOR) in the ICSS procedure, reflecting enhanced brain stimulation reward (BSR). Rats were treated once a day with naltrexone orally (PO; 5.0 mg/kg) or subcutaneously (SC; 0.5 mg/kg) for four consecutive days and tested with D-amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in the ICSS paradigm 30 minutes later on days 1 and 4. Separate groups of rats received XR-NTX (50 mg/kg, SC) or placebo microspheres (similar mass to XR-NTX, SC) on day 0 and tested with D-amphetamine in the ICSS paradigm on days 4, 14, 21, 28 and 41 after administration. Naltrexone plasma concentrations were determined for each amphetamine testing session using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In rats pretreated with naltrexone acutely, amphetamine-potentiated BSR did not differ from vehicle-pretreated rats on either day 1 or day 4 (25-30% decrease in LOR). In XR-NTX-pretreated rats, amphetamine-potentiated BSR was reduced by 64 and 70% on days 4 and 14, respectively, compared to placebo microsphere-treated controls. This effect dissipated by day 21. Naltrexone plasma concentrations were comparable across all treatment groups (14-30 ng/ml) on days 1, 4 and 14. In summary, an extended-release formulation of naltrexone results in significant attenuation of psychostimulant-enhanced BSR that is not observed with acute naltrexone.

Naltrexone attenuates the subjective effects of amphetamine in patients with amphetamine dependence.

Amphetamine abuse and dependence is a global health concern with a collateral increase in medical and social problems. Although some of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying amphetamine dependence and its devastating effects in humans are known, the development of rational and evidence-based treatment is lagging. There is evidence from preclinical studies suggesting that the endogenous opioid system plays a role in mediating some of the behavioral and neurochemical effects of amphetamine in a variety of controlled settings. In the present study we assessed the effects of naltrexone, an opioid antagonist (50 mg) on the subjective physiological and biochemical response to dexamphetamine (30 mg) in 20 amphetamine-dependent patients. Patients received naltrexone/amphetamine followed by placebo/amphetamine, 1 week apart in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled design. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of pretreatment with naltrexone on the subjective response to amphetamine, using a Visual Analog Scale. The secondary objective was to investigate the effects of naltrexone on physiological and biochemical responses to amphetamine, as measured by changes in blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance, and cortisol. Naltrexone significantly attenuated the subjective effects produced by dexamphetamine in dependent patients (p<0.001). Pretreatment with naltrexone also significantly blocked the craving for dexamphetamine (p<0.001). There was no difference between the groups on the physiological measures. The results suggest that the subjective effects of amphetamine could be modulated via the endogenous opioid system. The potential of naltrexone as an adjunct pharmaceutical for amphetamine dependence is promising.

Melatonin protects SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells from amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.

Several hypotheses regarding the mechanism underlying amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity have been proposed. One of them is based on the observation of free radical formation and oxidative stress produced by auto-oxidation of dopamine (DA). The formation of DA-related reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide and hydroxyl radicals appears to play an important role in amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. Melatonin, the main secretory product of pineal gland, is well known for its protective effects that are currently attributed mainly to its radical scavenging and antioxidant properties. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of melatonin on d-amphetamine (AMPH)-induced neurotoxicity in cultured human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Our data indicate that AMPH significantly reduces cell viability, induces oxidative stress (enhances ROS production and malondialdehyde levels), up-regulates alpha-synuclein expression and decreases intracellular ATP levels. However, pretreatment of SK-N-SH cells with melatonin prevents AMPH-induced loss of cell viability and induction of oxidative stress, while reducing alpha-synuclein expression and increasing ATP production. These results suggest that the antioxidant properties of melatonin may provide a protective mechanism against AMPH-induced neuronal degeneration.

A gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonist blocks D-amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion and increases hippocampal NGF and BDNF levels in rats.

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) has emerged as a novel molecular target in neurological and psychiatric disorders, and previous animal studies suggest that GRPR antagonists might display cognitive-enhancing and antipsychotic properties. Hyperlocomotion produced by administration of D-amphetamine (D-AMPH) to rats has been put forward as a model of the manic phase of bipolar disorder (BD). In the present study, we examined the effects of a single systemic administration of the GRPR antagonist [D-Tpi(6), Leu(13) psi(CH(2)NH)-Leu(14)] bombesin (6-14) (RC-3095) on hyperlocomotion induced by a single systemic injection of D-AMPH in male rats. We also evaluated the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampus of rats treated with D-AMPH and RC-3095. Administration of RC-3095 at any of the doses used blocked D-AMPH-induced hyperlocomotion. Specific doses of RC-3095 increased the levels of NGF and BDNF in the dorsal hippocampus. Administration of D-AMPH did not affect NGF or BDNF levels by itself, but blocked the RC-3095 effects. The results suggest that GRPR antagonists might display anti-manic activity.

Rolipram: a specific phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor with potential antipsychotic activity.

Currently available antipsychotic medications work primarily by antagonizing D2 dopamine receptors, thus raising intracellular cAMP levels. We hypothesized that intracellular stimulation of cAMP levels in the CNS would have similar effects to treatment with antipsychotic medication. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effect of an acute treatment of rolipram, an inhibitor of type 4 phosphodiesterases that degrade cAMP, on acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response in C57BL/6J mice known to exhibit poor PPI. PPI is disrupted in schizophrenia patients, and the ability of a drug to increase PPI in mice is predictive of antipsychotic efficacy. We show here that acute treatment with rolipram significantly increases PPI at doses that do not alter the acoustic startle response (lowest effective dose 0.66 mg/kg). In addition, rolipram (0.66 mg/kg) blocks the disruptive effects of amphetamine (10 mg/kg) on PPI. At a slightly higher dose (1.0 mg/kg), rolipram also induces catalepsy. Thus, phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibition has many of the same behavioral effects as traditional antipsychotic medications. In contrast to traditional antipsychotics, these effects are achieved through alteration of an intracellular second messenger system rather than antagonism of neurotransmitter receptors. Given previous reports showing rolipram improves cognition, we conclude that PDE4 represents an important novel target for further antipsychotic drug development.

Strain differences in lithium attenuation of d-amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion: a mouse model for the genetics of clinical response to lithium.

Lithium attenuation of stimulant-induced hyperlocomotion is a rodent model that may be useful both to understand the mechanism of the therapeutic action of lithium and to develop novel lithium-mimetic compounds. To lay the foundation for future investigations into the neurobiology and genetics of lithium as a therapeutic agent, we studied the effect of lithium on d-amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in 12 (3 outbred) mouse strains. In our initial screening, mice received either (1) no drugs, (2) LiCl only, (3) d-amphetamine only, or (4) d-amphetamine and LiCl. Whereas there was no significant effect of LiCl alone on locomotion in any strain, there was a large degree of strain variation in the effects of LiCl combined with d-amphetamine. LiCl attenuated d-amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in C57BL/6J, C57BL/6Tac, Black Swiss, and CBA/J mice, whereas CD-1, FVB/NJ, SWR/J, and NIH Swiss mice, which were responsive to d-amphetamine, showed no significant effect of LiCl. d-Amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in the C3H/HeJ strain was increased by pretreatment with lithium. A subset of strains were treated for 4 weeks with lithium carbonate before the d-amphetamine challenge, and in each of these strains, lithium produced effects identical to those seen following acute administration. Strain responsiveness to lithium was not dependent upon the dose of either d-amphetamine or LiCl. Further, the results are not explained by brain lithium levels, which suggests that these behavioral responses to lithium are under the control of inherent genetic or other biological mechanisms specific to the effects of lithium on brain function.

A low dose of aripiprazole attenuates the subject-rated effects of d-amphetamine.

Despite increased reports of amphetamine abuse and dependence, a putative pharmacotherapy has yet to be identified. In a previous study from our laboratory, 20 mg aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic that has partial agonist activity at D(2) receptors, attenuated many of the behavioral effects of d-amphetamine. Aripiprazole (20 mg) also impaired performance on a computerized version of the DSST when administered alone, indicating that the attenuation observed may have been functional as opposed to receptor mediated. The present experiment was conducted to determine whether a lower dose of aripiprazole (10 mg) could acutely attenuate the discriminative-stimulus, subject-rated, and physiological effects of d-amphetamine (2.5-15 mg) without impairing performance as measured with a computerized version of the DSST. The results of the present experiment indicate that 10 mg aripiprazole attenuated some abuse-related behavioral effects of d-amphetamine and was generally devoid of effects, including significant performance impairment, when administered alone. These findings suggest that 10 mg aripiprazole would be a reasonable starting dose for the treatment of stimulant abuse and dependence. Future research should examine the effects of chronic aripiprazole administration in combination with methamphetamine or cocaine.

Effects of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist CP55,940 and antagonist SR141716A on d-amphetamine-induced behaviours in Cebus monkeys.

Several clinical studies have shown that alterations in the cannabinoid system in the brain may be associated with schizophrenia. Although evidence points towards an antipsychotic potential for cannabinoid antagonists, experimental studies have shown inconsistent behavioural effects of cannabinoid ligands within and across species. The aim of the present study was to explore these contradictory findings in a non-human primate model, predictive of antipsychotic efficacy in humans. The effects of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A and the CB1 receptor agonist CP55,940 were explored in an d-amphetamine-based Cebus monkey model of psychosis. The monkeys were sensitive to extrapyramidal side effects (EPS), and the side-effect profiles of the drugs were explored as well. SR141716A (0.1, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5 and 0.75 mg/kg) and CP55,940 (0.0025, 0.005 and 0.01 mg/kg) were administered by subcutaneous injection alone and in combination with d-amphetamine (0.25mg/kg). SR141716A (0.1-0.5mg/kg) reduced d-amphetamine-induced arousal, while CP55,940 had no significant effect upon d-amphetamine-induced behaviours. No EPS were observed with either of these compounds. These data suggest that cannabinoid CB1 antagonists such as SR141716A may have limited antipsychotic potential in man as to positive symptoms. SR141716A administered alone induced anxiolytic-like behaviour, whereas administration of CP55,940 alone showed anxiogenic properties.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of the antipsychotic potential of orally bioavailable neurotensin (8-13) analogues containing non-natural arginine and lysine residues.

Neurotensin (NT) and its active fragment NT(8-13) elicit behavioral responses typical of clinically used antipsychotic drugs when administered directly to the brain. However, limited peptide stability and oral bioavailability have prevented these compounds from being developed as relevant pharmaceuticals. Recently, our laboratory designed and studied a first-generation NT(8-13) derivative, KK13, that elicited key pharmacokinetic and behavioral responses typical of clinically used antipsychotic drugs when administered to rats parenterally. This compound was the basis for the rational design of a series of second-generation NT(8-13) analogues (KH1-KH30) studied in this paper. Initial screening of these analogues for CNS activity by monitoring hypothermia induction after peripheral administration defined several compounds (KH11, KH24, KH26, and KH28-KH30) that warranted further investigation. Each compound maintained binding affinity for NTR(1), however, only KH24, KH26, and KH28 (as well as KK13) elicited significant hypothermic responses after oral administration. Of these, KH28 demonstrated an oral activity 3-fold greater than any other analogue; hence it was further characterized in a series of rat behavioral assays. KH28 attenuated d-amphetamine induced hyperlocomotion, a hallmark of current clinically effective antipsychotic drugs, after both IP and oral administration. In addition, tolerance to the compound did not develop after repeated daily dosing, as measured by hypothermic induction as well as attenuation of d-amphetamine induced hyperlocomotion. Finally, KH28 did not produce catalepsy, a deleterious side-effect elicited by classical antipsychotic drugs. KH28 is considered to be an ideal compound for further development as a potential novel antipsychotic.

Valproate attenuates dextroamphetamine-induced subjective changes more than lithium.

Dextroamphetamine administration in healthy controls produces a range of subjective and physiological effects, which have been likened to those occurring during mania. However, it is uncertain if these can be attenuated by lithium since conflicting results have been reported. To date there have been no previous studies examining the effects of valproate on dextroamphetamine-induced mood and physiological changes. The current study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, study in which volunteers received either 1000 mg sodium valproate (n=12), 900 mg lithium (n=9), or placebo (n=12) pre-treatment for 14 days. Subjective and physiological measures were then obtained prior to administration of a 25 mg dose of dextroamphetamine, and at two time points after administration. Differences in the response to dextroamphetamine were assessed between the three treatment groups. The results of this study show that pre-treatment with lithium only significantly attenuated dextroamphetamine-induced change in happiness, while valproate pre-treatment significantly attenuated the effects of dextroamphetamine on happiness, energy, alertness and on the diastolic blood pressure. These results suggest that lithium and valproate do not have the same mechanism of action on dextroamphetamine-induced changes, and this finding may relate to differences in their mechanism of action in mood disorders.