Banisteriopsis caapi extract: Implications for neuroinflammatory pathways in Locus coeruleus lesion rodent model.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Ayahuasca is a beverage obtained from the decoctions of Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce ex Griseb.) Morton and Psychotria viridis Ruiz & Pav., used throughout the Amazon as a medicinal beverage for healing and spiritual exploration.

Memory reactivation mediates emotional valence updating of contextual memory in mice with protracted morphine withdrawal.

Mice subjected to morphine locomotor sensitization develop increased anxiety-behavior expression during protracted morphine withdrawal. This behavioral change is dependent on reexposure to the context of locomotor sensitization and reflects a state of conditioned anxiety. In this study, the effect of memory reconsolidation on the expression of conditioned anxiety in mice with protracted morphine withdrawal was examined.

Fmr1 exon 14 skipping in late embryonic development of the rat forebrain.

Background: Fragile X syndrome, the major cause of inherited intellectual disability among men, is due to deficiency of the synaptic functional regulator FMR1 protein (FMRP), encoded by the FMRP translational regulator 1 (FMR1) gene. FMR1 alternative splicing produces distinct transcripts that may consequently impact FMRP functional roles. In transcripts without exon 14 the translational reading frame is shifted.

Kinetic profile of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carbolines in saliva and serum after oral administration of ayahuasca in a religious context.

Ayahuasca is a beverage obtained from Banisteriopsis caapi plus Psychotria viridis. B. caapi contains the β-carbolines harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine that are monoamine oxidase inhibitors and P.

Inhaled Lavandula angustifolia essential oil enhances extinction learning and inhibits memory updating in mice submitted to the contextual fear conditioning.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil (EO) has a long history of use in emotional illness, including anxiety disorders. Cognitive mechanisms of learning and memory play a pivotal role in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety since exposure to cues related to aversive situations induces high arousal and anticipatory anxiety. Memory become labile after its reactivation and can be modulated by reconsolidation or extinction.

Anxiety-like behavior in acute and protracted withdrawal after morphine-induced locomotor sensitization in C57BL/6 male mice: The role of context.

Contextual memory plays an important role in development and maintenance of drug addiction. However, little is known about of the role contextual memory in the emergence of a negative emotional state in the withdrawal period. Therefore, this study investigated anxiety-like behavior in acute and protracted morphine withdrawal of mice submitted to a locomotor sensitization protocol and the influence of contextual memory on this behavior.

Effect of Ritualistic Consumption of Ayahuasca on Hepatic Function in Chronic Users.

Ayahuasca is a beverage obtained from decoctions of the liana Banisteriopsis caapi plus the shrub Psychotria viridis. This beverage contains a combination of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, the main substance responsible for its visionary effect. The ritualistic use of ayahuasca is becoming a global phenomenon.

Mutagenicity of Ayahuasca and Their Constituents to the Salmonella/Microsome Assay.

Ayahuasca is a beverage used in religious rituals of indigenous and nonindigenous groups, and its therapeutic potential has been investigated. Ayahuasca is obtained by decoction of the Banisteriopsis caapi that contains β-carbolines (harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine) plus Psychotria viridis that contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Although plants used in folk medicine are recognized as safe, many of them have genotoxic potential.

Inhaled Lavandula angustifolia essential oil inhibits consolidation of contextual- but not tone-fear conditioning in rats.

Although the current treatment for anxiety is effective, it promotes a number of adverse reactions and medical interactions. Inhaled essential oils have a prominent action on the central nervous system, with minimal systemic effects, primarily because of reduced systemic bioavailability. The effects of drugs on the consolidation of fear conditioning reflects its clinical efficacy in preventing a vicious cycle of anticipatory anxiety leading to fearful cognition and anxiety symptoms.

The use of aromatase inhibitors in boys with short stature: what to know before prescribing?

Aromatase is a cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP19A1 isoform) able to catalyze the conversion of androgens to estrogens. The aromatase gene mutations highlighted the action of estrogen as one of the main regulators of bone maturation and closure of bone plate. The use of aromatase inhibitors (AI) in boys with short stature has showed its capability to improve the predicted final height.

Pharmacological Characterization of the Edema Caused by Vitalius dubius (Theraphosidae, Mygalomorphae) Spider Venom in Rats.

Bites by tarantulas (Theraphosidae, Mygalomorphae) in humans can result in mild clinical manifestations such as local pain, erythema, and edema. Vitalius dubius is a medium-sized, nonaggressive theraphosid found in southeastern Brazil. In this work, we investigated the mediators involved in the plasma extravasation caused by V.

Ritualistic Use of Ayahuasca versus Street Use of Similar Substances Seized by the Police: A Key Factor Involved in the Potential for Intoxications and Overdose?

The ritualistic use of ayahuasca is becoming a global phenomenon. This beverage contains a combination of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, the main substance responsible for its visionary effect. The recreational use of similar alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine has increased in recent years, mainly because of their hallucinogenic effects.

Differential patterns of expression of neuropeptide Y throughout abstinence in outbred Swiss mice classified as susceptible or resistant to ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization.

Several studies have focused on the negative emotional state associated with drug abstinence. The peptide NPY plays an important role given its involvement in drug addiction, anxiety, and mood disorders. Interestingly, it is well established that outbred Swiss mice exhibit a prominent behavioral variability to ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization.

Histological and functional renal alterations caused by Bothrops alternatus snake venom: expression and activity of Na+/K+-ATPase.

Background: Acute renal failure is a serious complication of human envenoming by Bothrops snakes. The ion pump Na+/K+-ATPase has an important role in renal tubule function, where it modulates sodium reabsorption and homeostasis of the extracellular compartment. Here, we investigated the morphological and functional renal alterations and changes in Na+/K+-ATPase expression and activity in rats injected with Bothrops alternatus snake venom.

Renal kinetics of Bothrops alternatus (Urutu) snake venom in rats.

The renal kinetics of Bothrops alternatus venom (0.8 mg/kg, i.v.

Biological activities of a lectin from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom.

Snake venoms contain saccharide-binding lectins. In this work, we examined the biological activities of a lectin (BjcuL) purified from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom by chromatography on non-derivatized Sepharose 4B and Sephacryl S-200 HR. The protein, a homodimer with subunits of 14.

Peptidase activities in rats treated chronically with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME).

The chronic treatment of rats with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, results in hypertension. This inhibition of NO production results in activation of the renin-angiotensin system, with increased activity of the carboxypeptidase angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE). Since chronic NO inhibition increases ACE activity, we hypothesized that this inhibition could also affect the activities of other peptidases involved in cardiovascular functions.

Novel natural peptide substrates for endopeptidase 24.15, neurolysin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme.

Endopeptidase 24.15 (EC; ep24.15), neurolysin (EC; ep24.