Pimavanserin reverses multiple measures of anxiety in a rodent model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Pimavanserin is a highly selective 5-HT inverse agonist in current medical use. Prior studies suggest that 5-HT serotonin receptors may play a role in anxiety and emotional memory. Therefore, pimavanserin was tested in a rat model of PTSD to determine whether it might ameliorate PTSD-like symptoms.

Software for designing rigorous and replicable preclinical research: The Experimental Design Accelerator.

In recent years, there have been concerns about research practices in basic and preclinical biomedical research. There have been problems with non-replicable results, and experimental designs lacking internal validity or external or translational validity. The Experimental Design Accelerator (XDA) is Internet-based, interactive software designed to help those trying to design, conduct and document rigorous, replicable and relevant experiments.

A subtype-specific neuropeptide FF receptor antagonist attenuates morphine and nicotine withdrawal syndrome in the rat.

Considerable evidence suggests the Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and related peptides exert pro-nociceptive and anti-opiate actions, particularly at the supra-spinal level, which may contribute to opiate dependence. The FF1 receptor subtype appears to be primarily responsible for anti-opiate effects. In contrast, stimulation of the FF2 receptor primarily induces pro-opiate effects.

Validation and scopolamine-reversal of latent learning in the water maze utilizing a revised direct platform placement procedure.

The Morris water maze is routinely used to explore neurobiological mechanisms of working memory. Humans can often acquire working memory relevant to performing a task by mere sensory observation, without having to actually perform the task followed by reinforcement. This can be modeled in the water maze through direct placement of a rat on the escape platform so that it can observe the location, and then assessing the subject's performance in swimming back to the platform.

Reversal of morphine tolerance by a compound with NPFF receptor subtype-selective actions.

Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) modulates opiate actions. It has pro-nociceptive effects, primarily through the NPFF receptor 1 subtype, and anti-nociceptive effects, primarily through the NPFFR2 subtype. AC-263093 is a small l, organic, systemically active molecule that was previously shown to functionally activate NPFFR2, but not NPFFR1.

Short-term blueberry-enriched diet prevents and reverses object recognition memory loss in aging rats.

Objective: Previously, 4 mo of a blueberry-enriched (BB) antioxidant diet prevented impaired object recognition memory in aging rats. Experiment 1 determined whether 1- and 2-mo BB diets would have a similar effect and whether the benefits would disappear promptly after terminating the diets. Experiment 2 determined whether a 1-mo BB diet could subsequently reverse existing object memory impairment in aging rats.

Passive immunization against nicotine attenuates somatic nicotine withdrawal syndrome in the rat.

Introduction: Nicotine immunization is under consideration as an intervention for smoking cessation. Therefore, it was of interest to evaluate the effects of nicotine antibodies on the withdrawal syndrome following termination of chronic nicotine administration.

Methods: Experiment 1 determined whether passive immunization following continuous nicotine infusion would alter the intensity of nicotine withdrawal syndrome in the rat.

Rodent models of nicotine withdrawal syndrome.

Simple, rapid and inexpensive rodent models of nicotine physical dependence and withdrawal syndrome have proved useful for preliminary screening of smoking cessation treatments. They have led to an exponential increase of knowledge regarding the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of dependence and withdrawal syndrome. The human nicotine withdrawal syndrome in smoking cessation is variable and multidimensional, involving irritability, anxiety, depression, cognitive and attentional impairments, weight gain, sleep disturbances, and craving for nicotine.

Bupropion attenuates nicotine abstinence syndrome in the rat.

Rationale: Bupropion reduces discomfort and craving associated with smoking cessation. This study determined whether a rat model of nicotine dependence could detect such nicotine abstinence-alleviating effects.

Objectives: Experiments determined whether the abstinence-alleviating effects of bupropion were detectable by (1) behavioral abstinence signs precipitated by the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine, (2) place aversion conditioned to mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine abstinence, and (3) spontaneous behavioral abstinence signs after abrupt nicotine withdrawal.

Blueberry supplemented diet: effects on object recognition memory and nuclear factor-kappa B levels in aged rats.

It has been reported that an antioxidant-rich, blueberry-supplemented rat diet may retard brain aging in the rat. The present study determined whether such supplementation could prevent impaired object recognition memory and elevated levels of the oxidative stress-responsive protein, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in aged Fischer-344 rats. Twelve aged rats had been fed a 2% blueberry supplemented diet for 4 months prior to testing.

Passive immunization against nicotine attenuates nicotine discrimination.

Ten rats were trained in a two lever operant chamber to press different levers after a nicotine injection (0.14 mg/kg s.c.

Effect of a total smoking ban in a maximum security psychiatric hospital.

An archival study was performed in a maximum security forensic hospital to evaluate the effects of a total ban on smoking and all tobacco products. One hundred and forty patients were characterized as nonsmokers or light, moderate or heavy smokers. Patient records for the four weeks prior to the ban were compared with their records for the four weeks subsequent to the ban.