Behavioural pharmacology of anxiety and mood disorders
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Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Phytotherapy in psychiatry: why psychiatrists should know about it Guilherme Frederico Miranda Lacerda, Paulo César Oliviera, Maria Aparecida Barbato Frazão Vital, Helvo Slomp Junior, José Carlos Fernandes Galduróz, and Roberto Andreatini Cambridge University Press (CUP) AbstractThere is a substantial use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among both the general population and psychiatric patients, with only a minority of these users disclosing this information to their healthcare providers, including physicians and psychiatrists. This widespread use of CAM can impact positively or negatively on the clinical outcomes of psychiatric patients, and it is often done along with conventional medicines. Among CAM, phytotherapy has a major clinical relevance due to the introduction of potential adverse effects and drug interactions. Thus, the psychiatrist must learn about phytotherapy and stay up-to-date with solid scientific knowledge about phytotherapeutics/herbal medicines to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients. Furthermore, questions about herbal medicines should be routinely asked to psychiatric patients. Finally, scientifically sound research must be conducted on this subject.
Antimanic-like effect of dipyridamole in the methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion Anderson Gustavo Santos, Carlos Eduardo Kühl, Arisa Namie Higashijima, Luiz Kae Sales Kanazawa, Suzen Tortato Furtado de Souza, and Roberto Andreatini Wiley AbstractBackgroundAdenosinergic system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and drugs that affect adenosine neurotransmission have shown some efficacy as add‐on therapy in manic patients.ObjectiveThus, the aim of the present study was to screen adenosinergic drugs for antimanic‐like effect in methylphenidate (MPH)‐induced hyperlocomotion in mice.MethodsMale and female Swiss mice received a single allopurinol (50 and 200 mg/kg, ip), dipyridamole (20 mg/kg, ip), or inosine (50 mg/kg, ip) administration before an acute MPH challenge (5 mg/kg, sc). In experiments with repeated treatment, male mice received a daily administration of allopurinol (25 and 50 mg/kg, ip), dipyridamole (20 mg/kg, ip), or inosine (50 mg/kg, ip) for 14 days. Finally, pretreatment with aminophylline (2 mg/kg, sc), an unspecific adenosine receptor antagonist, was used to evaluate a putative adenosinergic mediation. Locomotor activity was measured in the automated activity chamber for 20 min.ResultsAcute and repeated dipyridamole reduced the increase in locomotor activity induced by MPH, while allopurinol and inosine had no effect. Aminophylline blocked the effect of dipyridamole in MPH‐induced hyperlocomotion.ConclusionThe present results suggest that dipyridamole may have an antimanic‐like effect through adenosine receptors and reinforce the proposal that the adenosine system may be an interesting target for new antimanic drugs.
Diazepam attenuates the effects of cocaine on locomotion, 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations and phasic dopamine in the nucleus accumbens of rats William N. Sanchez, Jose A. Pochapski, Leticia F. Jessen, Marek Ellenberger, Rainer K. Schwarting, Donita L. Robinson, Roberto Andreatini, and Claudio Da Cunha Wiley BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, no effective drug exists to treat cocaine use disorder, which affects millions of people worldwide. Benzodiazepines are potential therapeutic candidates, as microdialysis and voltammetry studies have shown that they can decrease dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens of rodents and block the increase in dopamine levels and appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) induced by amphetamine in rats.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
Here we tested whether administration of 2.5 mg·kg-1 diazepam (i.p.) in adult male rats could block the effects of 20 mg·kg-1 cocaine (i.p.) on electrically-evoked phasic dopamine signals in the nucleus accumbens measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, as well as 50-kHz USV and locomotor activity.
KEY RESULTS
Cocaine injection increased evoked dopamine signals up to 3-fold within 5 min and the increase was significantly higher than baseline for at least 75 min. The injection of diazepam 5 min later attenuated the cocaine effect by nearly 50% and this attenuation was maintained for at least 40 min. Behaviorally, cocaine increased the number of appetitive 50-kHz calls by about 12-fold. Diazepam significantly blocked this effect for the entire duration of the session. Cocaine-treated rats also locomoted more compared to controls, while diazepam significantly attenuated cocaine-induced locomotion by up to 50%.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATION
These results suggest that the neurochemical and psychostimulant effects of cocaine can be mitigated by diazepam.
Trigeminal neuropathic pain has been modeled in rodents through the constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION). Sensory alterations, including spontaneous pain, and thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia are well characterized, but there is a notable lack of evidence about the affective pain component in this model. Evaluation of the emotional component of pain in rats has been proposed as a way to optimize potential translational value of non-clinical studies. In rats, 22 and 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are considered well-established measures of negative and positive emotional states, respectively. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that trigeminal neuropathic pain would result, in addition to the sensory alterations, in a decrease of 50 kHz USV, which may be related to altered function of brain areas involved in emotional pain processing. CCI-ION surgery was performed on 60-day-old male Wistar rats. 15 days after surgery, von Frey filaments were applied to detect mechanical hyperalgesia, and USV was recorded. At the same timepoint, systemic treatment with d,l-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) allowed investigation of the involvement of the dopaminergic system in USV emission. Finally, brain tissue was collected to assess the change in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and c-Fos expression in brain areas involved in emotional pain processing, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, and NAc. The results showed that CCI-ION rats presented mechanical hyperalgesia and a significant reduction of environmental-induced 50 kHz USV. Amphetamine caused a marked increase in 50 kHz USV emission in CCI-ION rats. In addition, TH expression was lower in constricted animals and c-Fos analysis revealed an increase in neuronal activation. Taken together, these data indicate that CCI-ION causes a reduction in the emission of environmental-induced appetitive calls concomitantly with facial mechanical hyperalgesia and that both changes may be related to a reduction in the mesolimbic dopaminergic activity.
Involvement of dopamine D<inf>2</inf> and glutamate NMDA receptors in the antidepressant-like effect of amantadine in mice Inara Fernanda Misiuta Raupp-Barcaro, Isabella Caroline da Silva Dias, Erika Meyer, Jeane Cristina Fonseca Vieira, Giovana da Silva Pereira, Arthur Ribeiro Petkowicz, Rúbia Maria Weffort de Oliveira, and Roberto Andreatini Elsevier BV The present study investigated the pharmacological mechanisms of the antidepressant-like effects of amantadine in mice and their influence on hippocampal neurogenesis. To improve the translational validity of preclinical results, reproducibility across laboratories and replication in other animal models and species are crucial. Single amantadine administration at doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg resulted in antidepressant-like effects in mice in the tail suspension test (TST), reflected by an increase in immobility time. The effects of amantadine were seen at doses that did not alter locomotor activity. The tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor α-methyl-ρ-tyrosine did not influence the anti-immobility effect of amantadine in the TST. Pretreatment with the α1 adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin, β adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol, α2 adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine, and α2 adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine did not alter the antidepressant-like effect of amantadine. However, amantadine's effect was blocked by the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol and glutamate receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Repeated amantadine administration (50 mg/kg) also exerted an antidepressant-like effect, paralleled by an increase in hippocampal neurogenesis. The present results demonstrate that the antidepressant-like effects of amantadine may be mediated by its actions on D2 and NMDA receptors and likely involve hippocampal neurogenesis.
Andrographolide blocks 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, hyperlocomotion and oxidative stress in an animal model of mania Luiz K.S. Kanazawa, Débora R. Radulski, Gabriela S. Pereira, Jos Prickaerts, Rainer K.W. Schwarting, Alexandra Acco, and Roberto Andreatini Elsevier BV In rats, lisdexamfetamine (LDX) induces manic-like behaviors such as hyperlocomotion and increases in appetitive 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USV), which are prevented by antimanic drugs, such as lithium. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and antioxidant activity have been associated with antimanic effects. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible antimanic-like effects of andrographolide (ANDRO), a GSK3β inhibitor, on LDX-induced hyperlocomotion and 50-kHz USV increases. In addition, the effect of ANDRO was studied on LDX-induced oxidative stress. Lithium was used as positive control. Adult Wistar rats were treated with vehicle, lithium (100 mg/kg i.p., daily) or ANDRO (2 mg/kg i.p., 3 times a week) for 21 days. On the test day, either 10 mg/kg LDX or saline was administered i.p. and USV and locomotor activity were recorded. LDX administration increased the number of 50-kHz calls, as well as locomotor activity. Repeated treatment with lithium or ANDRO prevented these effects of LDX on 50-kHz USV and locomotor activity. LDX increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in rat striatum and both lithium and ANDRO prevented this effect. LPO levels in rat striatum were positively correlated with increases in 50-kHz USV emission as well as hyperlocomotion. In conclusion, the present results indicate that ANDRO has antimanic-like effects, which may be mediated by its antioxidant properties.
Ketamine reversed short-term memory impairment and depressive-like behavior in animal model of Parkinson's disease Débora Dalla Vecchia, Luiz Kae Sales Kanazawa, Etiéli Wendler, Palloma de Almeida Soares Hocayen, Maria Aparecida Barbato Frazão Vital, Reinaldo Naoto Takahashi, Claudio Da Cunha, Edmar Miyoshi, and Roberto Andreatini Elsevier BV The most common features of Parkinson's disease (PD) are motor impairments, but many patients also present depression and memory impairment. Ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has been shown to be effective in patients with treatment-resistant major depression. Thus, the present study evaluated the action of ketamine on memory impairment and depressive-like behavior in an animal model of PD. Male Wistar rats received a bilateral infusion of 6 μg/side 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Short-term memory was evaluated by the social recognition test, and depressive-like behaviors were evaluated by the sucrose preference and forced swimming tests (FST). Drug treatments included vehicle (i.p., once a week); ketamine (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, i.p., once a week); and imipramine (20 mg/kg, i.p., daily). The treatments were administered 21 days after the SNc lesion and lasted for 28 days. The SNc lesion impaired short-term social memory, and all ketamine doses reversed the memory impairment and anhedonia (reduction of sucrose preference) induced by 6-OHDA. In the FST, 6-OHDA increased immobility, and all doses of ketamine and imipramine reversed this effect. The anti-immobility effect of ketamine was associated with an increase in swimming but not in climbing, suggesting a serotonergic effect. Ketamine and imipramine did not reverse the 6-OHDA-induced reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry in the SNc. In conclusion, ketamine reversed depressive-like behaviors and short-term memory impairment in rats with SNc bilateral lesions, indicating a promising profile for its use in PD patients.