Social Interaction in Adolescent Rats with Neonatal Ethanol Exposure: Impact of Sex and CE-123, a Selective Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor.

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) demonstrate deficits in social functioning that contribute to early withdrawal from school and delinquency, as well as the development of anxiety and depression. Dopamine is involved in reward, motivation, and social behavior. Thus, we evaluated whether neonatal ethanol exposure (in an animal model of FASDs) has an impact on social recognition memory using the three-chamber social novelty discrimination test during early and middle adolescence in male and female rats, and whether the modafinil analog, the novel atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitor CE-123, can modify this effect. Our study shows that male and female rats neonatally exposed to ethanol exhibited sex- and age-dependent deficits in social novelty discrimination in early (male) and middle (female) adolescence. These deficits were specific to the social domain and not simply due to more general deficits in learning and memory because these animals did not exhibit changes in short-term recognition memory in the novel object recognition task. Furthermore, early-adolescent male rats that were neonatally exposed to ethanol did not show changes in the anxiety index but demonstrated an increase in locomotor activity. Chronic treatment with CE-123, however, prevented the appearance of these social deficits. In the hippocampus of adolescent rats, CE-123 increased BDNF and decreased its signal transduction TrkB receptor expression level in ethanol-exposed animals during development, suggesting an increase in neuroplasticity. Thus, selective dopamine reuptake inhibitors, such as CE-123, represent interesting drug candidates for the treatment of deficits in social behavior in adolescent individuals with FASDs.

Relationship between GABA-Ergic System and the Expression of Mephedrone-Induced Reward in Rats-Behavioral, Chromatographic and In Vivo Imaging Study.

Mephedrone is a psychoactive drug that increases dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline levels in the central nervous system via interaction with transporters or monoamines. The aim of the presented study was to assess the role of the GABA-ergic system in the expression of mephedrone-induced reward. For this purpose, we conducted (a) a behavioral evaluation of the impact of baclofen (a GABAB receptors agonist) and GS39783 (a positive allosteric modulator of GABAB receptors) on the expression of mephedrone-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats, (b) an ex vivo chromatographic determination of the GABA level in the hippocampi of rats subchronically treated with mephedrone and (c) an in vivo evaluation of GABA hippocampal concentration in rats subchronically administered with mephedrone using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The results show that GS39783 (but not baclofen) blocked the expression of CPP induced by (20 mg/kg of) mephedrone. The behavioral effect was consistent with chromatographic analysis, which showed that mephedrone (5 and 20 mg/kg) led to a decrease in GABA hippocampal concentration. Altogether, the presented study provides a new insight into the involvement of the GABA-ergic system in the rewarding effects of mephedrone, implying that those effects are at least partially mediated through GABAB receptors, which suggests their potential role as new targets for the pharmacological management of mephedrone use disorder.

Novel multi-target ligands of dopamine and serotonin receptors for the treatment of schizophrenia based on indazole and piperazine scaffolds-synthesis, biological activity, and structural evaluation.

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that is not satisfactorily treated with available antipsychotics. The presented study focuses on the search for new antipsychotics by optimising the compound D2AAK3, a multi-target ligand of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), in particular D2, 5-HT1A, and 5-HT2A receptors. Such receptor profile may be beneficial for the treatment of schizophrenia. Compounds 1-16 were designed, synthesised, and subjected to further evaluation. Their affinities for the above-mentioned receptors were assessed in radioligand binding assays and efficacy towards them in functional assays. Compounds 1 and 10, selected based on their receptor profile, were subjected to in vivo tests to evaluate their antipsychotic activity, and effect on memory and anxiety processes. Molecular modelling was performed to investigate the interactions of the studied compounds with D2, 5-HT1A, and 5-HT2A receptors on the molecular level. Finally, X-ray study was conducted for compound 1, which revealed its stable conformation in the solid state.

Discovery of novel arylpiperazine-based DA/5-HT modulators as potential antipsychotic agents - Design, synthesis, structural studies and pharmacological profiling.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder with a complex pathomechanism involving many neurotransmitter systems. Among the currently used antipsychotics, classical drugs acting as dopamine D2 receptor antagonists, and drugs of a newer generation, the so-called atypical antipsychotics, can be distinguished. The latter are characterized by a multi-target profile of action, affecting, apart from the D2 receptor, also serotonin receptors, in particular 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A. Such profile of action is considered superior in terms of both efficacy in treating symptoms and safety. In the search for new potential antipsychotics of such atypical receptor profile, an attempt was made to optimize the arylpiperazine based virtual hit, D2AAK3, which in previous studies displayed an affinity for D2, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, and showed antipsychotic activity in vivo. In this work, we present the design of D2AAK3 derivatives (1-17), their synthesis, and structural and pharmacological evaluation. The obtained compounds show affinities for the receptors of interest and their efficacy as antagonists/agonists towards them was confirmed in functional assays. For the selected compound 11, detailed structural studies were carried out using molecular modeling and X-ray methods. Additionally, ADMET parameters and in vivo antipsychotic activity, as well as influence on memory and anxiety processes were evaluated in mice, which indicated good therapeutic potential and safety profile of the studied compound.

The Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Drug-Induced Reward-Implications for Social and Non-Social Factors.

Drug abuse is a worldwide problem that leads to negative physical, mental, and economic consequences. Although pharmacological strategies for drug addiction management have been widely studied, therapeutic options with high efficacy and a low side-effects profile are still limited. Recently, there has been a growing interest in oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of drug abuse. OT and AVP are hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in numerous physiological processes. Additionally, studies show that these neurohormones are highly implicated in the modulation of a wide range of behaviors. Interestingly, ample evidence has shown that both, OT and AVP are able to decrease the consumption of different drugs of abuse, as well as to ameliorate their rewarding and reinforcing effects. Furthermore, OT and AVP have been strongly involved in prosocial effects and social reward. In particular, OT has been shown to be able to shift drug-induced reward into social-induced reward, mainly due to its interaction with the dopaminergic system. This phenomenon is also reflected in the results of clinical trials where intranasal OT shows promising efficacy in managing substance use disorder. Therefore, the aim of this review is to comprehensively characterize the involvement of OT and AVP in the rewarding and other behavioral effects of drugs of abuse in animal models, with a particular highlight on the impact of social factors on the observed effects. Understanding this relationship may contribute to higher drug development success rates, as a result of a more profound and deliberate studies design.

Funnel metadynamics and behavioral studies reveal complex effect of D2AAK1 ligand on anxiety-like processes.

Anxiety is a troublesome symptom for many patients, especially those suffering from schizophrenia. Its regulation involves serotonin receptors, targeted e.g. by antipsychotics or psychedelics such as LSD. 5-HT2A receptors are known for an extremely long LSD residence time, enabling minute doses to exert a long-lasting effect. In this work, we explore the changes in anxiety-like processes induced by the previously reported antipsychotic, D2AAK1. In vivo studies revealed that the effect of D2AAK1 on the anxiety is mediated through serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors, and that it is time-dependent (anxiogenic after 30 min, anxiolytic after 60 min) and dose-dependent. The funnel metadynamics simulations suggest complicated ligand-5HT2AR interactions, involving an allosteric site located under the third extracellular loop, which is a possible explanation of the time-dependency. The binding of D2AAK1 at the allosteric site results in a broader opening of the extracellular receptor entry, possibly altering the binding kinetics of orthosteric ligands.

Neuroprotective Effect of Yucca schidigera Roezl ex Ortgies Bark Phenolic Fractions, Yuccaol B and Gloriosaol A on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Deficits in Zebrafish.

Y. schidigera contains a number of unusual polyphenols, derivatives of resveratrol and naringenin, called spiro-flavostilbenoids, which have potent in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moderate cholinesterase inhibitory activities. To date, these compounds have not been tested in vivo for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of both single spiro-flavostilbenoids (yuccaol B and gloriosaol A) and phenolic fractions derived from Y. schidigera bark on scopolamine-induced anxiety and memory process deterioration using a Danio rerio model. Detailed phytochemical analysis of the studied fractions was carried out using different chromatographic techniques and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The novel tank diving test was used as a method to measure zebrafish anxiety, whereas spatial working memory function was assessed in Y-maze. In addition, acetylcholinesterase/butyrylcholinesterase (AChE/BChE) and 15-lipooxygenase (15-LOX) inhibition tests were performed in vitro. All pure compounds and fractions under study exerted anxiolytic and procognitive action. Moreover, strong anti-oxidant capacity was observed, whereas weak inhibition towards cholinesterases was found. Thus, we may conclude that the observed behavioral effects are complex and result rather from inhibition of oxidative stress processes and influence on cholinergic muscarinic receptors (both 15-LOX and scopolamine assays) than effects on cholinesterases. Y. schidigera is a source of substances with desirable properties in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Multitarget Derivatives of D2AAK1 as Potential Antipsychotics: The Effect of Substitution in the Indole Moiety.

Schizophrenia is a complex disease which is best treated with multitarget drugs, such as atypical antipsychotics. Previously, using structure-based virtual screening, we found a virtual hit, D2AAK1, with nanomolar affinity for dopamine and serotonin receptors important in schizophrenia pharmacotherapy. As a part of an optimization campaign of D2AAK1, we obtained 17 derivatives that also display a multitarget profile. Selected compounds were tested against off-targets in schizophrenia, i. e., histamine H1 receptor and muscarinic M1 receptor, and these did not display considerable affinity for these receptors. The two most promising compounds were subjected to behavioral studies. These compounds decreased amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice which indicates their antipsychotic potential. The compounds did not interfere with the memory consolidation in mice, as determined in the passive avoidance test. The favorable pharmacological profile of these compounds was rationalized using molecular modeling.

Potential for Prebiotic Stabilized Cornus mas L. Lyophilized Extract in the Prophylaxis of Diabetes Mellitus in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats.

As a systemic disease, diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by the disruption of many glucose metabolic pathways. Therefore, it seems critical to study new therapies to support treatment to develop therapeutic systems that can operate across a broad metabolic spectrum. The current state of knowledge indicates an essential role of the gut microbiota in the development and course of the disease. Cornus mas fruits have demonstrated a rich biological activity profile and potential for application in the treatment of DM. As part of a preliminary analysis, the activity of four cultivars of Cornus mas fruits was analyzed. The cultivar Wydubieckij was selected as having the highest activity in in vitro conditions for further prebiotic system preparation. The study aimed to develop a unique therapeutic system based, first of all, on the mechanism of α-glucosidase inhibition and the antioxidant effect resulting from the activity of the plant extract used, combined with the prebiotic effect of inulin. The obtained system was characterized in vitro in terms of antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibition capacity, and was then tested on diabetic rats. The study was coupled with an analysis of changes in the intestinal microflora. The system of prebiotic stabilized Cornus mas L. lyophilized extract with inulin offers valuable support for the prophylaxis and treatment of DM.