Antagonism of AMPA receptors produces anxiolytic-like behavior in rodents: effects of GYKI 52466 and its novel analogues.

Rationale: Although emerging number of data supports the role of glutamate receptors and the potential of their antagonists in anxiety disorders, the involvement of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptors in anxiety is less well characterized.

Objective: To evaluate the anxiolytic potential of 2,3-benzodiazepine (2,3BDZ) type AMPA receptor antagonists in various models of anxiety.

Materials And Methods: Whole-cell currents, hippocampal field potentials, elevated plus maze (EPM), meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP)-induced anxiety model, Vogel test in rats and light-dark test (LD) in mice were used to determine AMPA/kainite receptor properties and anxiolytic-like activity of a series of 2,3BDZ-type compounds.

(Phenylpiperazinyl-butyl)oxindoles as selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonists.

A series of potent 5-hydroxytryptamine 7 (5-HT 7) ligands has been synthesized that contain a 1,3-dihydro-2 H-indol-2-one (oxindole) skeleton. The binding of these compounds to the 5-HT 7 and 5-HT 1A receptors was measured. Despite the structural similarity of these two serotonin receptor subtypes, several derivatives exhibited a high selectivity to the 5-HT 7 receptor.

Histaminergic neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system of gastropods (Helix, Lymnaea): an immunocytochemical, biochemical, and electrophysiological approach.

Distribution, chemical-neuroanatomy, concentration, and uptake-release properties of histamine (HA)-containing neurons and the possible physiological effects of HA in the central and peripheral nervous system of the pulmonate snails, Helix pomatia and Lymnaea stagnalis, are described. In the CNS of both species, the distribution pattern of HA-immunoreactive (HA-IR) neurons was similar. In both species the majority were located in the buccal, cerebral, and pedal ganglia.