Trait specific modulatory effects of caffeine exposure on compulsive-like behaviors in a spontaneous mouse model of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by recurring intrusive thoughts and repetitive compulsive behaviors, ultimately interfering with their quality of life. The complex heterogeneity of symptom dimensions across OCD patient subgroups impedes diagnosis and treatment. The core and comorbid symptomologies of OCD are thought to be modulated by common environmental exposures such as consumption of the psychostimulant caffeine. The effect of caffeine on the expression of obsessions and compulsions are unexplored. The current study utilized mouse strains (HA) with a spontaneous, predictable,...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - September 11, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Neonatal exposure to genistein affects reproductive physiology and behavior in female and male Long-Evans rats
The present study was designed to examine the effects of neonatal genistein exposure on measures of reproductive physiology and behavior. Approximately 24 h after birth, female and male Long-Evans rat pups were injected daily with genistein (150 µg, subcutaneous; n = 29) or olive oil (n = 23) between postnatal days 1 and 5. After weaning, we examined all subjects daily until they reached puberty (i.e. vaginal opening in female rats and preputial separation in male rats). For all female subjects, we also examined vaginal cytology. After monitoring estrous cyclicity, the female subjects were given the opportunit...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - September 11, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Exploratory analyses of postanesthetic effects of desflurane using behavioral test battery of mice
Halogenated ethers, such as desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane, are known to exert an array of effects besides sedation. However, the postanesthetic effects of desflurane remain undiscovered as no study has explored these effects systematically. Phenotypic screening using behavioral test batteries is a powerful method to identify such effects. In the present study, we behaviorally phenotyped desflurane-treated mice to investigate postanesthetic effects. We applied comprehensive behavioral test batteries measuring sensorimotor functions, anxiety, depression, sociability, attention, and learning abilities, starting 7 da...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - September 11, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Cannabidiol disrupts conditioned fear expression and cannabidiolic acid reduces trauma-induced anxiety-related behaviour in mice
The major phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has anxiolytic properties and lacks tetrahydrocannabinol-like psychoactivity. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is the acidic precursor to CBD, and this compound appears more potent than CBD in animal models of emesis, pain and epilepsy. In this short report, we aimed to examine whether CBDA is more potent than CBD in disrupting expression of conditioned fear and generalised anxiety-related behaviour induced by Pavlovian fear conditioning. Mice underwent fear conditioning and 24 h later were administered CBD and CBDA before testing for fear expression and generalized anxiety-like beha...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
Repeated nicotine vapor inhalation induces behavioral sensitization in male and female C57BL/6 mice
Electronic cigarette use has significantly increased over the past decade. However, there is limited preclinical research on the behavioral and abuse-related effects of nicotine vapor inhalation in rodents. The present study evaluates the effects of repeated nicotine vapor inhalation in male and female mice using a nicotine behavioral sensitization model. Male and female C57BL/6 mice were administered vaporized nicotine (0–10.0 mg/ml) or the positive control of intraperitoneally administered nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) once daily for 5 days, and locomotor activity was assessed. Body temperatures were measured before and after n...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
The influence of the duration of chronic unpredictable mild stress on the behavioural responses of C57BL/6J mice
The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression in mice is a model commonly used to investigate stress-induced depressive-like behaviours. The duration of the stress-inducing procedure is variable, thus making it difficult to compare results and draw general conclusions from different protocols. Here, we decided to investigate how the duration of the CUMS procedure affects behavioural changes, body weight as well as the level of plasma corticosterone in stressed and nonstressed C57BL/6J mice subjected to CUMS for 18 or 36 days. We found that 18 days of CUMS induced a robust decrease in grooming time in...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
The discriminative stimulus effects of epibatidine in C57BL/6J mice
The α4β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes are targeted for the development of smoking cessation aids, and the use of drug discrimination in mice provides a robust screening tool for the identification of drugs acting through nAChRs. Here, we established that the α4β2* nAChR agonist epibatidine can function as a discriminative stimulus in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice discriminated epibatidine (0.0032 mg/kg, subcutaneously) and were tested with agonists varying in selectivity and efficacy for α4β2* nAChRs. The discriminative stimulus effects of epibatidine were characterized with the nonselective, nonco...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Preference for vigorous exercise versus sedentary sucrose drinking: an animal model of anergia induced by dopamine receptor antagonism
Motivation has activational and directional components. Mesolimbic dopamine is critical for the regulation of behavioral activation and effort-related processes in motivated behaviors. Impairing mesolimbic dopamine function leads to fatigue and anergia, but leaves intact other aspects of reinforce seeking behaviors, such as the consummatory or hedonic component. In male Swiss mice, we characterized the impact of dopamine antagonism on the selection of concurrently presented stimuli that have different vigor requirements. We analyzed running wheel activity versus sucrose solution intake, typically used as a measure of anhed...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Gamma-decanolactone attenuates acute and chronic seizures in mice: a possible role of adenosine A1 receptors
This study aimed to investigate the possible gamma-decanolactone mechanisms of action in the GABAergic and adenosine systems using the aminophylline-induced acute crisis model and the pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling model. In the acute model, male mice received administration of bicuculline (GABAA receptor antagonist), 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (A1 receptor antagonist) or ZM241385 (A2A receptor antagonist), 15 min before the treatment with gamma-decanolactone (300 mg/kg). After a single dose of aminophylline was administered, the animals were observed for 60 min. In the chronic model of seizure, 30 min...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Metoprolol decreases retention of fear memory and facilitates long-term depression in lateral amygdala
In this study, we investigated the action of β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist-metoprolol and β2-adrenergic receptor antagonist-butoxamine on the retention of conditioned fear memory and synaptic adaptation in the lateral amygdala of rats. We found metoprolol not butoxamine attenuated the reactivation-induced strengthening of fear retention and restored the impaired long-term depression in lateral amygdala. Intra-amygdala infusion of metoprolol not butoxamine attenuated reactivation-induced enhancement of fear retention. Our results suggest that β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist-metoprolol may be more suitable for the t...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Antipsychotic-like profile of CIQ isomers in animal models of schizophrenia
Earlier, we have shown the efficacy of racemic (±) CIQ, a positive allosteric modulator of GluN2C/2D receptor against MK-801 induced impairment of prepulse inhibition as well as working memory. The present study investigated the antipsychotic-like profile of different CIQ (±, +, −) isomers against schizophrenia-like symptoms in series of behavioural animal models like apomorphine climbing, social isolation behaviour and NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 induced cognitive deficits. Further, we also tested CIQ (±, +, −) isomers in neurodevelopmental model against MK-801induced deficits using open field test, Y-maze test...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
The role of glutamate receptors and their interactions with dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the development of tardive dyskinesia: preclinical and clinical results
Tardive dyskinesia is a serious, disabling, movement disorder associated with the ongoing use of antipsychotic medication. Current evidence regarding the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia is mainly based on preclinical animal models and is still not completely understood. The leading preclinical hypothesis of tardive dyskinesia development includes dopaminergic imbalance in the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia, cholinergic deficiency, serotonin receptor disturbances, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and changes in synaptic plasticity. Although, the role of the glutamatergic system has been confirmed in...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - August 12, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
The contribution of orexin receptors within the ventral tegmental area to modulation of antinociception induced by chemical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus in the animal model of orofacial pain in the rats
In this study, we investigated the role of orexin 1 (OX1) and orexin 2 (OX2) receptors within the VTA in modulation of the LH-induced antinociception during both phases of orofacial formalin test. Male adult Wistar rats weighing 230–250 g were unilaterally implanted with two stainless steel guide cannulae in the VTA and LH. In two separate supergroups, animals received SB334867 (OX1 receptor antagonist) or TCS OX2 29 (OX2 receptor antagonist), at the doses of 3, 10, and 30 nM/rat into the VTA before intra-LH microinjection of carbachol (250 nM/rat) as a nonselective cholinergic receptor agonist for chemical stimula...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - July 30, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Cerebrolysin enhances the expression of the synaptogenic protein LRRTM4 in the hippocampus and improves learning and memory in senescent rats
Aging reduces the efficiency of the organs and systems, including the cognitive functions. Brain aging is related to a decrease in the vascularity, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Cerebrolysin, a peptide and amino acid preparation, has been shown to improve the cognitive performance in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. Similarly, the leucine-rich repeat transmembrane 4 protein exhibits a strong synaptogenic activity in the hippocampal synapses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the cerebrolysin treatment on the learning and memory abilities, sensorimotor functions, and the leucine-rich repeat...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - July 30, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Comparison of chemotherapy effects on mechanical sensitivity and food-maintained operant responding in male and female rats
Chemotherapies of varying classes often cause neuropathy and debilitating chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain sufficient to limit treatment and reduce quality of life for many patients battling cancer. There are currently no effective preventive or alleviative treatments for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. Preclinical models have been developed to test candidate chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain treatments; however, studies using these models rarely provide direct comparisons of effects of different chemotherapies or assess the degree to which chemotherapies produce clinically relevant signs of pain-depressed ...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - July 30, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
