The anxiolytic-like effects of estazolam on a PTSD animal model.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychiatric disorder. Estazolam has been shown to produce anxiolytic-, hypnotic-, amnestic-, and sedative-like effects. However, few studies are concerned about its anti-PTSD-like effects. The anti-PTSD-like effects of estazolam were evaluated by single prolonged stress animal model. After exposure to single prolonged stress, rats (Sprague-Dawley, male, 8 weeks) were administered by estazolam (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) from day 2 to 13 once daily. The behavioral assessments were performed during treatment with drugs. After the behavioral evaluation, the role of allopregnanolone in the anti-PTSD-like effects of estazolam was also evaluated via astrocyte cells and brain tissues (e.g. prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala). The PTSD-like behavioral deficits were significantly blocked by estazolam (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) without affecting locomotor activity. Consistently, the levels on allopregnanolone were increased by estazolam (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. The levels of allopregnanolone were increased by sertraline (1 µmoL/L) and estazolam (4 µmoL/L), while the effects were antagonized by trilostane (1 µmoL/L) and finasteride (1 µmoL/L) in astrocyte cells, respectively. Collectively, the anxiety-like behavior deficits were ameliorated by estazolam in the single prolonged stress animal model that was associated with biosynthesis of allopregnanolone.

The anxiolytic-like effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on chronic unpredictable stress in rats.

The present study is to evaluate the anxiolytic-like activities underlying ginsenoside Rg3 (GRg3). The anxiolytic-like activities were induced by GRg3 (20 and 40 mg/kg, i.g), evidenced by blocking the decreased time and entries in the open arms in elevated plus maze test and by reversing the increased latency to feed in novelty-suppressed feeding test. In addition, the decreased levels on progesterone, allopregnanolone, serotonin (5-HT) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) were blocked by GRg3 (20 and 40 mg/kg, i.g). Furthermore, the increased corticotropin releasing hormone, corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone were blocked by GRg3 (20 and 40 mg/kg, i.g). Collectively, the anxiolytic-like effects produced by GRg3 were associated with the normalization of neurosteroids biosynthesis, serotonergic system as well as HPA axis dysfunction.

The effects of PK11195 on the MCF-7 and T47D were associated with the allopregnanolone biosynthesis, which was mediated by Translocator Protein 18 KDa.

Breast cancer is currently the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide. It had been shown that the allopregnanolone biosynthesis was associated with tumorigenesis and PK11195, the Translocator Protein 18 KDa (TSPO) antagonist, had the effects of the allopregnanolone biosynthesis. However, little is known about the association between the effects of PK11195 on the breast cancer and the allopregnanolone biosynthesis. To evaluate this, the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and T47D were cultured. Cell viability and proliferation were determined by CCK-8 assay. The IC50 of PK11195 on the MCF-7 and T47D were 5.4 nM and 6 nM. The cell viability and proliferation of AC-5216 (TSPO selective ligand, 3 and 6 nM) was blocked by PK11195 (5.4 nM and 6 nM). Moreover, we evaluated the role of allopregnanolone biosynthesis in the effects of TSPO on breast cancer. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) was used in the measurement of the allopregnanolone level. We found that the allopregnanolone level was increased by AC-5216 (3 and 6 nM) and the increase was reversed by PK11195 (5.4 nM and 6 nM, resepectively) in MCF-7 and T47D. The TSPO mRNA level was determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The TSPO mRNA level were increased by AC-5216 (6 nM), which the increases were reversed by PK11195 (5.4 nM and 6 nM, resepectively) in MCF-7 and T47D. Collectedly, it firstly indicated that the effects of PK11195 on MCF-7 and T47D were associated with the decrease of allopregnanolone biosynthesis, which was mediated by TSPO.