Discrepancy between effects of milligram and nanogram doses of a COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib) on morphine state-dependent memory of passive avoidance in mice.

This experiment examined and compared the effects of pre-test administration of a selective COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib), at the doses in the range of mg/kg and ng/kg on morphine state-dependent learning in step-down passive avoidance task in mice. Pre-training administration of 5mg/kg of morphine-impaired memory retrieval tested 24h later, which was restored by pre-test administration of the same dose of the drug. Pre-test administration of celecoxib (12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg), alone or in combination with morphine (1mg/kg) prevents morphine-induced memory impairment. Ultra-low doses (ULDs) of celecoxib (2, 10 and 50 ng/kg) produced no change in morphine-induced memory impairment. However, co-administration of nanogram doses of celecoxib with 5mg/kg of morphine in the test day prevented morphine-induced memory improvement, an action different from mg/kg doses. These findings implicate the involvement of COX-2 in memory retrieval and demonstrate that the effect of celecoxib ULD is different from that of mg/kg doses.

Effects of ultra-low doses of morphine, naloxone and ethanol on morphine state-dependent memory of passive avoidance in mice.

This experiment examined and compared the effects of pre-test administration of morphine, naloxone and ethanol, at doses in the range of milligram/kg to those of nanogram/kg, on morphine state-dependent learning in a step-down passive avoidance task in mice. Morphine (5 mg/kg) administered before training impaired retention tested 24 hours later, but when the same dose of morphine was also administered before the test, the retention was significantly restored. Pre-training administration of 10 or 20 ng/kg (i.p.) of morphine had no effect, but when co-administered with the same drug at 5 mg/kg (s.c.), it prevented significantly the memory recall improvement after the administration of morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) alone. In a parallel experiment, naloxone (5 mg/kg) prevented the memory recall improvement by morphine. However, the effects of naloxone at doses in the range of ng/kg were opposite to those of milligram doses of the same drug. Pre-test administration of ethanol (1 mg/kg) improved memory recall and mimicked the effects of pre-test morphine administration. At doses in the nanogram range, the effects of ethanol were opposite those of mg/kg of the drug. A review of the literature indicates that, for several drugs and chemicals, the effects of nanogram doses are the opposite of the effects of milligrams, because different doses have different sites as well as mechanisms of actions. In conclusion, from the above results one may suggest that, in determination of the dose-response of at least some drugs, the study of the effects of doses much lower than two orders of magnitude of the minimum effective dose are warranted.

Effect of ethanol on morphine state-dependent learning in the mouse: involvement of GABAergic, opioidergic and cholinergic systems.

AIMS: We have studied the effect of acute administration of ethanol when it replaced morphine in step-down passive avoidance task on the test day and the effects of antagonists of GABAergic, opioidergic and cholinergic systems on ethanol actions. METHODS: Morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered as pre-training and 24 h later as pre-test drug, and the latencies were measured in mice. Ethanol (0.125, 0.25, 1 and 2 g/kg, i.p.) was administered instead of pre-test morphine. Antagonists of GABAergic (bicuculline 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.), opioidergic (naloxone 0.06, 0.25 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) and cholinergic (atropine 0.625 and 1.25 mg/kg, i.p. and mecamylamine 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) systems were co-administered with ethanol (0.25 g/kg, i.p.) on the test day. Locomotor activity was measured as well. RESULTS: Pre-training morphine impaired the memory on the test day which was restored when the same dose of morphine was used as pre-test drug. All four doses of ethanol replaced pre-test morphine and enhanced the memory. This effect was prevented by all of the above antagonists. No significant changes were seen in the locomotor activity of the animals treated with ethanol or antagonists compared to the proper controls. CONCLUSIONS: GABAergic, endogenous opioidergic and cholinergic systems are involved in the memory recall improvement by ethanol when it replaced morphine on the test day. A review of the literature suggests other possibilities such as the release of intermediate neurotransmitters.

Influence of beta-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on baclofen-induced memory impairment in mice.

Post-training administration of different doses of baclofen (a GABAB agonist) has been shown to impair memory retention, in a step-down passive avoidance test in mice. We have studied the effects of beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists on baclofen-induced memory impairment in mice. Dobutamine (a beta 1-agonist) or salbutamol (a beta 2-agonist) reversed the memory impairment induced by baclofen without exhibiting intrinsic actions on memory when administered alone. The administration of atenolol (a beta 1-antagonist) or propranolol (a beta-antagonist) produced a memory impairment. When co-administered with baclofen, both atenolol and propranolol exacerbated the memory impairment induced by the GABAB agonist. It is concluded that beta-adrenergic mechanisms may be involved in the modulation of memory via GABAB receptors.

Influence of potassium channel modulators on morphine state-dependent memory of passive avoidance.

In a step-down passive avoidance task, the pre-training injection of 1.25-10 mg/kg of morphine impaired memory. This was restored when injection of the same dose of morphine (pre-test treatment) was repeated 24 h later (morphine state-dependent learning: morphine St-D). ATP-dependent potassium (K(ATP)) channels have been reported to be involved in several actions of morphine following mu-receptor stimulation. We have studied the effect of K(ATP) modulators and naloxone in the restoration of memory by morphine in mice. To investigate the part played by cholinergic systems in the effects of a K(ATP) antagonist (glibenclamide) on morphine St-D, we administered low doses of atropine before glibenclamide administration. Locomotor activity was also studied. Naloxone (0.06-1 mg/kg) reversed the effect of pre-test morphine administration. The effects of the K(ATP) channel blocker glibenclamide (2-18 mg/kg) were similar to those of the pre-test administration of morphine. Pre-test co-administration of glibenclamide and morphine showed no potentiation of the morphine effect. Glibenclamide alone or in combination with morphine did not affect locomotor activity. Pre-test administration of different doses of diazoxide (15-60 mg/kg), a K(ATP)-channel opener, had no effect on restoration of memory when used alone or in combination with morphine. In both cases, the locomotor activity was significantly reduced. Diazoxide blocked the effect of glibenclamide on memory recall. Low-dose atropine also prevented glibenclamide enhancement of memory recall, suggesting that this action of glibenclamide is through the cholinergic system.

Effects of different doses of glucose and insulin on morphine state-dependent memory of passive avoidance in mice.

RATIONALE: Behavioral effects of morphine, including its effect on memory, have been demonstrated to be influenced by glucose pretreatment. The measurement of step-down latency in passive avoidance has been used to study memory in laboratory animals. The pre-training injection of 5 mg/kg morphine impaired memory, which was restored when 24 h later the same dose of the drug was administered. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of glucose and insulin alone or in combination with morphine, on pre-test day, on memory recall in mice. METHODS: The effects of different doses of glucose (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, IP) and insulin (5, 10, and 20 IU/kg, IP) alone or in combination with morphine, have been studied in mice. The blood glucose level and locomotor activity of the animals were also measured. RESULTS: Although the administration of glucose alone showed no effect on morphine-induced memory impairment, its co-administration with morphine resulted in a significant and dose-dependent memory enhancement compared with the effects of morphine administration alone. Like glucose, the administration of different doses of insulin alone produced no change in the memory, but when the drug was co-administered with morphine, it significantly reduced morphine-induced memory retrieval. The effect of insulin was the opposite of glucose. None of the animals subjected to insulin treatment showed convulsions. CONCLUSIONS: Glucose is suggested to increase, on the test day, the morphine-induced memory enhancement by three different mechanisms: cholinergic or opioidergic modulations, or regulation of the ATP-dependent potassium channels.

Diazoxide, a K(ATP) opener, accelerates restitution of ethanol or indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats independent of polyamines.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Experimental acute gastric ulcerations (EAGU) are healed very rapidly. This healing process has two steps; mucosal restitution and delayed repair. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-dependent potassium channels (K(ATP)) have a regulatory role in the gastrointestinal physiology. In the present study, the effects of K(ATP) channel modulators; diazoxide (channel opener) and glibenclamide (channel antagonist) on the healing of EAGU were investigated. The effect of polyamine (mediators presumably responsible for restitution) biosynthesis by difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on diazoxide-induced alterations, and the effects of acid secretion inhibitors (cimetidine, omeprazole and atropine) on the mucosal restitution of EAGU were also studied. METHODS: Groups of 10 male rats were starved for 24 h and EAGU was induced by oral administration of 1 mL 60% ethanol or a subcutaneous injection of 30 mg/kg indomethacin. Different groups were subjected to various doses of diazoxide (5, 15, 45 mg/kg) and/or glibenclamide (2, 6, 18 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) after EAGU induction. Polyamine biosynthesis was inhibited by a single i.p. injection of DFMO (500 mg/kg), administered 10 min before EAGU induction. Cimetidine, omeprazole or atropine were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 200, 5 and 1 mg/kg, respectively, after EAGU induction. Animals were killed and their gastric mucosa was examined for ulcerations. RESULTS: Diazoxide accelerated the healing of EAGU, whereas glibenclamide aggravated EAGU. The concomitant administration of glibenclamide antagonized the diaoxide effect. Diazoxide-induced acceleration of mucosal restitution was not abolished by DFMO. Cimetidine, omeprazole and atropine had no effect on the healing of EAGU. CONCLUSION: The K(ATP) channels may play an important role in the gastric mucosal restitution independent of polyamines. Acid inhibition cannot reverse EAGU.

Potassium channel modulators and indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats.

BACKGROUND: Different mechanisms have been proposed for the pathophysiology of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration (IIGU), including changes in gastric mucosal blood flow, motility, and acidity. It seems probable that adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-dependent potassium channels (K(ATP)) have a regulatory effect on the above factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of K(ATP) channel modulators, diazoxide as a channel opener and glibenclamide as a K(ATP) antagonist, on IIGU. METHODS: Male rats were starved for 24 h. Groups of 10 animals were used. Diazoxide at doses of 5, 15, and 45 mg/kg and glibenclamide at doses of 2, 6, and 18 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally 30 min before the subcutaneous injection of 30 mg/kg of indomethacin. To assess the effects of indomethacin on the gastric mucosal vascular bed, different doses of enalapril and hydralazine, two vasodilators with mechanisms of action independent of K(ATP), were also studied. Gastric mucosal ulceration was noted, and fasting blood sugar was assayed. The data were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Indomethacin produced gastric ulceration in 100% of rats with a severity rating of 2.15/10. This was prevented by diazoxide and aggravated by glibenclamide. Diazoxide increased and glibenclamide decreased fasting blood sugar. Neither enalapril nor hydralazine showed any effect on IIGU and/or fasting blood sugar. CONCLUSION: K(ATP) modulators may play an important role in the pathophysiology of IIGU through a peripheral action on mucosal and submucosal blood flow of the stomach, gastric motility, acidity, or an action on the vagus complex center of the brain.

Appliance effects on the masseter and temporal muscle electromyography of patients with facial asymmetry.

The usual symmetrical EMG recordings were disturbed in all 5 cases of asymmetrical dentofacial deformity. A marked electrical activity of the masseter and temporal muscles opposite to the site of the lesion was observed.

Effects of cold or restraint on incidence of gastric ulceration induced in rats by ulcerogenic drugs.

Exposure to cold (4degreesC) or restraint increased the incidence and severity of gastric ulceration induced after i.p. injection of phenylbutazone, aspirin and indomethacin but not of histamine. Oral administration of cimetidine, an H2-receptor blocker, 30 min before drug injection, prevented the occurrence of gastric lesions.

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels in glandular stomach of restrained rats.

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were measured in glandular stomach of rats subjected to saline administration, cold (4 degrees C), restraint and restraint+cold after 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. All animals subjected to restraint+cold had gastric ulceration after 2 hours. A significant but transient decrease in cAMP was observed 15 minutes after restraint+cold. A marked, sustained and significant decrease of cGMP was observed in the same group of animals. It is concluded that it seems unlikely to be a correlation between cAMP and cGMP changes of the stomach and the restraint-induced gastric ulceration.

Decreased incidence of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats by bile duct diversion.

Gastric mucosal ulceration was produced in rats following intraperitoneal injection of indomethacin (40 mg/kg). The incidence of ulcerations was progressively reduced as the bile flow was diverted progressively distal to the ampulla of Vater. It is suggested that bile reflux into the stomach may play a part in the pathogenesis of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats.

Decreased mitotic activity in the stomach, duodenum and colon of rats treated with high doses of histamine.

Histamine in doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly inhibited mitotic activity of the stomach, duodenum and colon of rats. With the above doses this effect is not dose dependent. However, only the highest dose produced acute gastric mucosal ulceration. It is suggested that decreased mitotic activity is not causally related to ulcer provocation.