ABSTRACT
The present study was initiated to examine the effect of nebracetam, a nootropic drug, on various biochemical and morphometric parameters in order to gain some insight into the mechanism of this agent action. The content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PCr) and 3H-valine incorporation into proteins was measured and the morphometry was performed after nebracetam and piracetam treatment of rat astrocytes cultured in vitro with or without dibutyryl 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dBcAMP). Nootropics were added into the culture medium for 2 weeks at the final concentration of 10(-7) M. Cultured astrocytes treated with either nebracetam or piracetam showed decreased intracellular ATP and PCr levels. The addition of nebracetam and dBcAMP to cultures caused an increase of PCr content in astrocytes. The astrocytes treated with nebracetam showed a decrease in 3H-valine incorporation. The increase of 3H-valine incorporation into astrocytes after piracetam with dBcAMP treatment was found. Nootropic drugs change morphometric parameters (cell area, perimeter and form factor) of cultured astrocytes. It can be concluded that nootropics have differentiated influence on both the energetic metabolism and morphology of rat astrocytes in vitro.
Subject(s)
Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Astrocytes/metabolism , Nootropic Agents/pharmacology , Phosphocreatine/metabolism , Piracetam/pharmacology , Pyrrolidinones/pharmacology , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Valine/metabolismABSTRACT
The nootropic drugs, including piracetam (PIR) and oxiracetam (OXI) are used in the adjunctive treatment of dementia. They are thought to directly influence energetic processes in the brain and, therefore, they are supposed to improve memory and cognition. The content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PCr) and 3H-valine incorporation into proteins were measured, and the morphometry was performed after PIR and OXI treatment of astrocytes cultured in vitro with or without dibutyryl 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dBcAMP). Nootropics were added into the culture medium for 2 weeks at a final concentration of 10(-7) M. It was shown that OXI increased ATP content in astrocytes cultured with or without dBcAMP. The increase in 3H-valine incorporation into astrocytes after PIR and OXI together with dBcAMP treatment was found. These results indicate that the presented research model allows to study energetic processes in cultured astrocytes. However, nootropic drugs changed morphometric parameters (cell area, perimeter and form factor) of cultured astrocytes as well. It can be concluded that PIR and OXI as nootropics have an opposing effect on the content of high-energy phosphates and shape of astrocytes in vitro.
Subject(s)
Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Nootropic Agents/pharmacology , Phosphocreatine/drug effects , Piracetam/pharmacology , Psychotropic Drugs/pharmacology , Pyrrolidines/pharmacology , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Astrocytes/drug effects , Astrocytes/metabolism , Bucladesine/pharmacology , Cell Size/drug effects , Cell Size/physiology , Cells, Cultured , Phosphocreatine/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Valine/drug effects , Valine/metabolismABSTRACT
ATP is a potential marker of cell vialibility and growth. The content of ATP and 3H-valine incorporation into proteins were measured and the morphometry was performed after antidepressant treatment of astrocytes cultured in vitro with or without dibutyryl 3'5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dB-cAMP). Antidepressants were added into the culture medium (for 24 h) at a final concentration of 10(-4)M (imipramine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepine, mianserin) or 10(-5)M (maprotiline). It was shown that all antidepressants except maprotiline and imipramine increased ATP level and decreased 3H-valine incorporation into astrocytes. All drugs except clomipramine and maprotiline, diminished cell area and perimeter of astrocytes. The addition of dB-cAMP to cultures caused an increase of astrocyte form factor. It can be concluded that antidepressants have a significant effect on energy metabolism and differentiation of astrocytes cultured in vitro.
