[Update of a database on plants involved in the composition of 825 drugs: Pharmaplantes-Kénitra 98]. / Mise au point d'une base de données sur les plantes qui rentrent dans la composition de 825 médicaments: Pharmaplantes-Kénitra 98.

The main objective of this work lies in the setting up of a database on plants used in medicines which is aimed at pharmacological development of plant resources in Morocco. We have, as a first step, made an inventory of different plant species involved in medicine making in Morocco. This survey dealt with 825 miscellaneous pharmaceutical products and reveals the use of 445 different plant species in medicine making. For each plant species, we have also noted the parts of the plant which are used in the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, we have taken an interest in plant extracts involved in this medicine making. The results show that in all these medicines contain 46 extracts of a vegetal nature. At the top of the list, menthol is used in the manufacture of 110 pharmaceutical products. Finally, an analysis per pharmaco-therapeutic family reveals the impact of the involvement of these plants on each of these families. In fact, it turns out that 204 plant species play a part in medicines classified in the family of gastro-entero-hepatology whereas only one plant is involved in anti-inflammatory medicines.

Effects of amphetamine and phenylethylamine on catecholamine release in the glomerular layer of the rat olfactory bulb.

In the present work, we have shown electrochemically that in the rat olfactory bulb (OB), extracellular dopamine (DA) was highest in the glomerular layer (GL), whereas extracellular noradrenaline (NA) appeared to be more uniformly distributed across layers. The GL catecholamine (CA) responses to amphetamine (AMPH) and phenylethylamine (PEA) were also characterized electrochemically using an in vivo model. Results of this investigation show that at a lower dose (1 mg/kg), PEA had no effect on CA release. In contrast, at a higher dose (10 mg/kg), it produced similar increases in either extracellular DA (17.5 +/- 7%) or extracellular NA (14 +/- 3%), and DA exhibited dose-independent increases to AMPH (93 +/- 8%: 1 mg/kg vs. 97 +/- 6%: 10 mg/kg) whereas NA exhibited dose-dependent increases to AMPH (24.5 +/- 6%: 1 mg/kg vs. 39 +/- 7%: 10 mg/kg). These data indicate that (i) PEA may increase CA release but less efficiently than AMPH. (ii) AMPH is more efficient on the DAergic than on the NAergic system since AMPH-induced DA release exceeded 2-4 times the AMPH-induced NA release.

Asymmetrical increases in dopamine turn-over in the nucleus accumbens and lack of changes in locomotor responses following unilateral dopaminergic depletions in the entorhinal cortex.

Functional interdependence between mesencephalic dopaminergic pathways is an emerging concept. Using in vivo voltammetry and acute manipulation of dopaminergic transmission with pharmacological agents, we have previously reported the existence of a preferentially left lateralized functional interdependence between the entorhinal cortex and the nucleus accumbens. The aim of the present work was to test if this phenomenon is only a dynamic process or if compensation occurs when interdependent functioning is considered in a more long-term perspective. In this study 6-OHDA lesions of the dopamine terminals of the entorhinal cortex were performed separately in the left and right hemispheres. Spontaneous and (+)-amphetamine stimulated locomotor activity were recorded 3 weeks after unilateral interventions in the Ent. Variations in DA and DOPAC levels were measured in the nucleus accumbens 5 weeks after the lesion. The following results were obtained. After unilateral 6-OHDA in the left Ent, DA and DOPAC tissue contents as well as the DOPAC/DA ratio were found significantly changed in nucleus accumbens in the two hemispheres. After dopaminergic destruction in the right Ent only the DOPAC/DA ratio in the left Acc was found statistically elevated. No differences in spontaneous or (+)-amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity were observed after either left or right lesions. These data confirm those previously obtained with the voltammetric approach and further support the existence of an asymmetrical functional interdependence between mesencephalic DAergic pathways reaching the Ent and the Acc. These results may provide new insights in the pathophysiology of schizophrenic psychoses.

[The role of quinine chlorhydrate in the conditioned inhibition of the tarsal reflex in Drosophila melanogaster]. / Le rôle du chlorhydrate de quinine dans l'inhibition conditionnée du réflexe tarsal chez Drosophila melanogaster.

The proboscis extension reflex (PER) can be elicited by applying a sucrose stimulation to the tarsus of a walking fly. This reflex decreases in frequency with repetition, presumably habituation, a nonassociative learning. If each sucrose stimulation is followed by a bitter stimulation, quinine chloride, the PER declines more rapidly, probably the result of conditioning, an associative learning. The present work shows that quinine chloride does not always inhibit PER suppressions but depends on the moment of delivery, being most effective when presented immediately after a sucrose stimulation. A bitter stimulus presented before, or simultaneously with a sucrose stimulation is less effective than habituation to sucrose alone. This experiment provides evidence for an interpretation in terms of cognitive association. The model of learning is not a Pavlovian conditioning as advanced by Medioni and Vaysse (1975), but corresponds to the punishment paradigm of Dyal and Corning (1973).