Effects of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK(4)) and of anxiolytic drugs on GABA outflow from the cerebral cortex of freely moving rats.

The effect of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK(4)) and of different anxiolytic drugs on GABA outflow from the cerebral cortex was investigated in freely moving rats, by using the epidural cup technique. CCK(4) (3-30 microg/kg, i.p.) increased GABA outflow and induced objective signs of anxiety. These neurochemical and behavioral responses were prevented by the CCK(B) antagonist GV150013 at 0.1 microg/kg (i.p.). At higher doses (up to 30 microg/kg) this compound per se reduced GABA release and caused sedation, suggesting the presence of a CCKergic positive tonic modulation on GABA interneurons. Similarly the GABA(A) receptors modulator, diazepam (2mg/kg, i.p.) and the 5-HT(1A) agonist buspirone (3mg/kg, i.p.) reduced GABA outflow and caused the expected behavioral effects (reduced muscle tone, mild 5-HT syndrome) which were prevented by the respective, selective antagonists, flumazenil (1mg/kg, i.p.) and NAN-190 (3mg/kg, i.p.). These findings support the idea that GV150013, diazepam and buspirone inhibit GABAergic cortical activity, through the respective receptors. This neurochemical effect may represent the end-effect of various anxiolytic compounds affecting the cortical circuitry.

Concentrations and effects of buspirone are considerably reduced by rifampicin.

AIMS: The effects of rifampicin on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of buspirone, a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic agent, were investigated. METHODS: In a randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study with two phases, 10 young healthy volunteers took either 600 mg rifampicin or matched placebo once daily for 5 days. On day 6, 30 mg buspirone was administered orally. Plasma buspirone concentrations and effects of buspirone were measured up to 10 h. RESULTS: The total area under the plasma buspirone concentration-time curve after rifampicin was 10.4% (95% CI, 6.3-14.5%) of that after placebo (1.64+/-0.35 ng ml(-1) h vs 22.0+/-15.1 ng ml(-1) h (mean+/-s.d.); P< 0.01). Rifampicin decreased the peak plasma concentration of buspirone from 6.6+/-3.7 ng ml(-1) to 0.84+/-0.23 ng ml(-1) (P< 0.01) and the half-life from 2.8+/-0.7 h to 1.3+/-0.5 h (P< 0.01). A significant (P<0.05) reduction in the effects of buspirone was observed in three of the six psychomotor tests employed (postural sway test with eyes closed, subjective drowsiness and overall drug effect) after rifampicin pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: The strong interaction between rifampicin and buspirone is probably mostly due to enhanced CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism of buspirone. Buspirone will most likely show a greatly reduced anxiolytic effect when used together with rifampicin or other potent inducers of CYP3A4 such as phenytoin and carbamazepine.

Excitation of noradrenergic cell firing by 5-hydroxytryptamine1A agonists correlates with dopamine antagonist properties.

The 5-HT1A receptor agonists buspirone, 8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin, gepirone and ipsapirone were evaluated for their receptor binding profiles and their effects on firing rates of 5-HT, dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) neurons in the dorsal raphe, substantia nigra pars compacta and the locus ceruleus, respectively. All agents bound to 5-HT1A receptors with high affinities. All agents also bound to dopamine D2 receptors but, with the exception of buspirone, affinities were usually much lower than for 5-HT1A receptors. All agents depressed 5-HT neurons, with 8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin having a potency about 8 to 12 times those for the other three. All agents also antagonized the inhibition of DA neurons by amphetamine, an index of DA antagonist properties. Buspirone reversed amphetamine's effects with doses similar to those for depressing 5-HT neurons, but the remaining three required much higher doses to affect DA neuron function. All four 5-HT1A agonists excited NA neurons. In each case, doses required for excitation of NA cells were similar to those reversing amphetamine's effects on DA cells, but not to those for depressing 5-HT cells. Haloperidol also stimulated NA cells. It is concluded that excitation of NA neurons by 5-HT1A agonists may be due to interactions with dopaminergic, rather than serotonergic, receptors.

The discriminative stimulus properties of buspirone involve dopamine-2 receptor antagonist activity.

To investigate a dopaminergic component in the discriminative stimulus properties of buspirone, rats were trained to discriminate 2.5 mg/kg buspirone from saline, using a two lever, food-rewarded, fixed ratio 10 operant procedure. To test the dopamine-2 (D2) antagonist action of buspirone, a second group of rats was trained to discriminate 0.16 mg/kg apomorphine from saline. In addition to a complete generalization to 8-OH-DPAT, the D2 antagonists haloperidol, R 79598 and sulpiride showed a partial generalization to buspirone. The benzodiazepine ligands chlordiazepoxide and bretazenil did not generalize to the buspirone cue. Buspirone (2.0 mg/kg) completely blocked the apomorphine cue in the apomorphine trained rats. Haloperidol, R 79895 and sulpiride also blocked the apomorphine cue, although at doses much smaller than the doses needed to evoke buspirone responding in the buspirone trained group. 8-OH-DPAT did not antagonize apomorphine. It was concluded that the D2 action of buspirone partially contributes to its discriminative stimulus properties. Mediation of the buspirone cue by 5-HT1a receptor activation seemed predominant. Further, buspirone can act as a full D2 antagonist in drug discrimination. A model was proposed suggesting a compound discriminative stimulus complex of buspirone with a dominant 5-HT1a component that overshadows a less pronounced D2 component.

Effect of pindolol on endocrine and temperature responses to buspirone in healthy volunteers.

Ten healthy subjects received buspirone (30 mg orally) with and without pre-treatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, pindolol (80 mg over 3 days). Following pindolol treatment the growth hormone and hypothermic responses to buspirone were significantly decreased. There was also a delay in the onset of the prolactin response to buspirone but the total amount of prolactin secretion, calculated as area under the curve, was not significantly reduced. The data suggest that the growth hormone and hypothermic responses to buspirone in humans are mediated by 5-HT1A receptors, but an explanation founded on pharmacokinetic factors cannot presently be excluded. Both this latter possibility and the lack of selectivity of pindolol for 5-HT receptors indicate the need for the further neuroendocrine studies of the mode of action of buspirone, preferably with more selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonists.

Buspirone inhibits corticotropin-releasing factor and stress-induced cecal motor response in rats by acting through 5-HT1A receptors.

The effect of buspirone on corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and stress-stimulated cecal motility and its antagonism by 5-HT1A (spiroxatrine) and sigma (BMY 14802) antagonists were evaluated by electromyography in rats equipped with chronically implanted electrodes on the cecum and a small catheter into the right lateral ventricle of the brain. Exposure to mental stress, consisting of a fear-conditioned response, increased during 30 min the frequency of cecal spike bursts significantly (P less than 0.01). The frequency of cecal spike bursts was also increased following intracerebroventricular injection of CRF (500 ng/kg). Buspirone (1 mg/kg s.c.) abolished the stimulatory effects of mental stress and CRF on cecal motility. Whereas spiroxatrine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) blocked the effect of buspirone on the colonic hypermotility induced by i.c.v. injection of CRF, BMY 14802 at a similar dose (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) was unable to block the action of buspirone. It is concluded that s.c. administration of buspirone suppresses the stress-induced cecal motor response through 5-HT1A receptors, probably by inhibiting the central or peripheral pathways involved in CRF mediation of these effects.

Effects of DN-2327, a new anxiolytic, diazepam and buspirone on exploratory activity of the rat in an elevated plus-maze.

In the present study, the effects of a new anxiolytic, DN-2327, were compared to those of diazepam and buspirone in rats in the elevated plus-maze test. Two indices of anxiety were obtained in this test: the number of entries into the open arms expressed as a percentage of the total number of arm entries and the percentage of time spent on the open arms. Both a typical anxiolytic, diazepam, at 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg, PO and a new anxiolytic, DN-2327, at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, PO dose-dependently increased the two indices: the percentage of time spent on the open arms and the percentage of open-arm entries. On the other hand, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) at 10 and 20 mg/kg, IP decreased the two indices dose dependently as did yohimbine at 1.5 and 3 mg/kg, IP. DN-2327 at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, PO and diazepam at 5 and 10 mg/kg, PO dose dependently and significantly increased the two indices that were suppressed following administration of PTZ at 10 mg/kg, IP. The effects of both DN-2327, 5 mg/kg, PO, and diazepam, 10 mg/kg, PO, on the two indices were significantly antagonized by the benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor antagonist flumazenil, 20 mg/kg, IP. Buspirone (2.5-20 mg/kg, PO) did not affect either of the two responses but dose dependently decreased the number of rearings, although in the Vogel conflict test, the anti-conflict activity of buspirone was equipotent to that of diazepam and DN-2327 at the minimum effective dose (10 mg/kg, PO) of each drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)