Interactions between reproductive transitions during aging and addiction: promoting translational crosstalk between different fields of research
Discovery of neural mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders within the aging and addiction fields has been a main focus of the National Institutes of Health. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the biological interactions of aging and addiction, which may have important influences on progression of disease and treatment outcomes in aging individuals with a history of chronic drug use. Thus, there is a large gap in these fields of research, which has slowed progress in understanding and treating substance use disorders (SUDs) as well as age-related diseases, specifically in women who experience precip...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - March 23, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Current rodent models for the study of empathic processes
Empathy is a complex phenomenon critical for group survival and societal bonds. In addition, there is mounting evidence demonstrating empathic behaviors are dysregulated in a multitude of psychiatric disorders ranging from autism spectrum disorder, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. Therefore, understanding the underlying drive and neurobiology of empathy is paramount for improving the treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals suffering from these psychiatric disorders. While there is a growing list of human studies, there is still much about empathy to understand, likely due to both its compl...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - March 23, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Special Issue on the Behavioural Pharmacology of Cannabinoids
No abstract available (Source: Behavioural Pharmacology)
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - March 23, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Announcement Source Type: research
Translational Research in Behavioural Pharmacology
No abstract available (Source: Behavioural Pharmacology)
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - March 23, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Early adolescent subchronic low-dose nicotine exposure increases subsequent cocaine and fentanyl self-administration in Sprague–Dawley rats
The objective of our current study is to develop a new animal model to assess the causal relationship of adolescent nicotine exposure on subsequent opioid intake. In this effort, we first replicate previous studies using a well-established 4-day nicotine paradigm. Rats are pretreated with a low dose of nicotine (2 × , 30 μg/kg/0.1 mL, intravenous) or saline during early adolescence (postnatal days 28–31) or adulthood (postnatal days 86–89). Following nicotine pretreatment on postnatal day 32 or postnatal day 90, animals underwent operant intravenous self-administration for the psychostimulant, cocaine [500 ...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short Report Source Type: research
The α1-adrenergic receptors in the amygdala regulate the induction of learned despair through protein kinase C-beta signaling
Hyperactivity of amygdala is observed in patients with major depressive disorder. Although the role of α1-adrenoceptor in amygdala on fear memory has been well studied, the role of α1-adrenoceptor in amygdala on depression-like behaviors remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of α1A-adrenoreceptor in amygdala on despair behavior, evaluated by the immobility time during tail suspension test (TST), pharmacological intervention, and immunohistological methods. C57BL6/J mice given a bilateral intra-amygdala injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid exhibited an increased duration of immobility in the latte...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Identification of the antidepressive properties of C1, a specific inhibitor of Skp2, in mice
We have reported that SMIP004, an inhibitor of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), displays antidepressant-like activities in stress-naïve and chronically stressed mice. Here, we investigated the antidepressant-like effect of C1, another inhibitor of Skp2, in mouse models following acute or chronic drug administration at different doses and treatment times by using the tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), and social interaction test (SIT). The time- and dose-dependent results showed that the antidepressant-like effect of C1 occurred 8 days after the drug treatment, and C1 produced antidepressa...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Blockade of orexin receptors in the ventral tegmental area reduced the extinction period of the lateral hypothalamic-induced conditioned place preference in rats
In conclusion, OXRs in the VTA play crucial roles in the maintenance of reward processes. (Source: Behavioural Pharmacology)
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Granisetron, a selective 5-HT3 antagonist, reduces L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-induced abnormal involuntary movements in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat
Administration of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) provides Parkinson’s disease patients with effective symptomatic relief. However, long-term L-DOPA therapy is often marred by complications such as dyskinesia. We have previously demonstrated that serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor blockade with the clinically available and highly selective antagonist ondansetron alleviates dyskinesia in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat. Here, we sought to explore the antidyskinetic efficacy of granisetron, another clinically available 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Rats were rendered hemi-parkinsonian by 6-OHDA injection in t...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Pharmacological evaluation of NO/cGMP/KATP channels pathway in the antidepressant-like effect of carbamazepine in mice
Carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant drug, has shown antidepressant effects in clinical and experimental models. Nitric oxide (NO) is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and has been involved in a variety of diseases including depression. In the present study, the involvement of NO/cyclic GMP/KATP channels pathway in the antidepressant action of carbamazepine was investigated in mice. The antidepressant-like activity was assessed in the forced swim test (FST) behavioral paradigm. Carbamazepine reduced (40 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) immobility period. The antidepressant-like effect of carbamazepine (40 mg/kg, intr...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Behavioral economics of cocaine self-administration in male and female rats
This study aimed to determine how cocaine demand intensity and elasticity might differ between sexes. In addition, the impact of estrous cycle and cocaine intake on demand was investigated. Male and female rats were trained to self-administer 0.125 mg of cocaine intravenously under a chained schedule in daily 2-h sessions for 2 weeks, and then, the cocaine demand function was determined with a modified within-session threshold procedure. Following the test, the rats began to self-administer a higher dose of cocaine (0.25 mg) to increase the cocaine intake. The demand function was then similarly determined in the same...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Intermittent dietary supplementation with fish oil prevents high fat diet-induced enhanced sensitivity to dopaminergic drugs
Eating a high fat diet can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dopamine system dysfunction. For example, rats eating high fat chow are more sensitive than rats eating standard chow to the behavioral effects (e.g., locomotion and yawning) of dopaminergic drugs (e.g., quinpirole and cocaine). Daily dietary supplementation with 20% (w/w) fish oil prevents high fat diet-induced enhanced sensitivity to quinpirole-induced yawning and cocaine-induced locomotion; however, doctors recommend that patients take fish oil just two to three times a week. To test the hypothesis that intermittent (i.e., 2 days per week) dietary suppleme...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Effects of JL13, a pyridobenzoxazepine compound, in dopaminergic and glutamatergic models of antipsychotic activity
The pyridobenzoxazepine compound, 5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-8-chloro-pyrido[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepine (JL13), has been developed as a potential antipsychotic drug. We tested the hypothesis that JL13 is efficacious in both dopaminergic and glutamatergic animal models of schizophrenia. We investigated JL13 for its efficacy to prevent cocaine- and ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion and MK-801-induced deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex. Male Swiss mice received injections of JL13 (0.1–10 mg/kg) and were tested in the open field for basal locomotion. In separate experiments, the animals received injecti...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research
Announcement: Change of Editor
No abstract available (Source: Behavioural Pharmacology)
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - January 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Announcement Source Type: research
The kappa-opioid receptor agonist, nalfurafine, blocks acquisition of oxycodone self-administration and oxycodone’s conditioned rewarding effects in male rats
Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists are highly efficacious for the treatment of pain but have significant abuse liability. Recently, we reported that nalfurafine, when combined with oxycodone at a certain ratio, reduced the reinforcing effects of oxycodone in rats while producing additive antinociceptive effects. Questions remain, however, including if the combination will function as a reinforcer in drug-naïve rats, and if the combination produces aversive effects that could explain nalfurafine’s ability to reduce oxycodone self-administration? In the present study, we investigated nalfurafine’s ability to reduce acqui...
Source: Behavioural Pharmacology - November 13, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
