Regulation of I1-imidazoline receptors on the sedation effect of dexmedetomidine in mice.

Dexmedetomidine has been used as a sedative drug in the clinic for a long time. Many studies demonstrated that the sedative mechanism of dexmedetomidine might be related to the activation of α2-adrenoceptor (α2AR). In addition, it was reported that dexmedetomidine had some affinity for the I1-imidazoline receptor (I1R); however, the role of I1R in dexmedetomidine-induced sedative effects and its possible mechanism are poorly studied.

Assessment of lisdexamfetamine on executive function in rats: A translational cognitive research.

Executive function, including working memory, attention and inhibitory control, is crucial for decision making, thinking and planning. Lisdexamfetamine, the prodrug of d-amphetamine, has been approved for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and binge eating disorder, but whether it improves executive function under non-disease condition, as well as the underlying pharmacokinetic and neurochemical properties, remains unclear. Here, using trial unique non-matching to location task and five-choice serial reaction time task of rats, we found lisdexamfetamine (p.

Neuropeptide S Receptor 1 variant (I107N) regulates behavioral characteristics and NPS effect in mice in a sex-dependent manner.

Accumulated data demonstrate that the A/T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs324981 in the human neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) gene, resulting in an amino acid change from asparagine (N) to isoleucine (I) at position 107, is associated with susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. Neuropeptide S (NPS) has also been implicated in modulating these disorders in rodent experiments. However, the effect of this SNP on NPSR1 activity remains unclear.

IRAS/Nischarin modulates morphine reward by glutamate receptor activation in the nucleus accumbens of mouse brain.

The I imidazoline receptor and its candidate protein imidazoline receptor antisera-selected (IRAS)/Nischarin are linked to μ opioid receptor (MOR) functions associated with MOR trafficking. We previously demonstrated that IRAS may play an important role in the development of morphine tolerance and physical dependence in vivo. However, the effects of IRAS on morphine psychological dependence are not fully understood.

Behavioral sensitization induced by methamphetamine causes differential alterations in gene expression and histone acetylation of the prefrontal cortex in rats.

Background: Methamphetamine (METH) is one of the most widely abused illicit substances worldwide; unfortunately, its addiction mechanism remains unclear. Based on accumulating evidence, changes in gene expression and chromatin modifications might be related to the persistent effects of METH on the brain. In the present study, we took advantage of METH-induced behavioral sensitization as an animal model that reflects some aspects of drug addiction and examined the changes in gene expression and histone acetylation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult rats.

Inhibition of naltrexone on relapse in methamphetamine self-administration and conditioned place preference in rats.

Methamphetamine (METH) addiction has been widely spread and caused severe problems both in society and public health in recent years, but there is a shortage of medication available. The naltrexone (NTX) as a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist has been widely applied to treat alcohol addiction and the relapse to opioid addiction after detoxification. In the present study, we investigated the potent pharmacotherapeutic effect of NTX in attenuating relapse to drug-seeking behavior in the METH self-administration and conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats.

Dorsolateral striatal miR-134 modulates excessive methamphetamine intake in self-administering rats.

Increasing evidence indicates that excessive drug consumption is sufficient for the transition from recreational and controlled drug use to uncontrolled use and addiction. However, the underlying mechanisms are debated. Some neurobehavioral and neuroimaging evidence indicates that dorsolateral striatum (dlStr)-dependent habit learning plays a key role in excessive drug intake and the transition to addiction, but little is known about the molecular events.

The role of IRAS/Nischarin involved in the development of morphine tolerance and physical dependence.

Morphine is a potent opioid analgesic used to alleviate moderate or severe pain, but the development of drug tolerance and dependence limits its use in pain management. Our previous studies showed that the candidate protein for I1 imidazoline receptor, imidazoline receptor antisera-selected (IRAS)/Nischarin, interacts with μ opioid receptor (MOR) and modulates its trafficking. However, there is no report of the effect of IRAS on morphine tolerance and physical dependence.

A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study of State Anxiety and Auditory Working Memory Load.

Cognitive studies have suggested that anxiety is correlated with cognitive performance. Previous research has focused on the relationship between anxiety level and the perceptual load within the frontal region, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices. High-anxious individuals are predicted to have worse performance on cognitively-demanding tasks requiring efficient cognitive processing.

CTDP-32476: A Promising Agonist Therapy for Treatment of Cocaine Addiction.

Agonist-replacement therapies have been successfully used for treatment of opiate and nicotine addiction, but not for cocaine addiction. One of the major obstacles is the cocaine-like addictive potential of the agonists themselves. We report here an atypical dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) inhibitor, CTDP-32476, that may have translational potential for treating cocaine addiction.

Y-QA31, a novel dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, exhibits antipsychotic-like properties in preclinical animal models of schizophrenia.

Aim: To investigate the potential effects of Y-QA31, a novel dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, as an antipsychotic drug.

Methods: A panel of radioligand-receptor binding assays was performed to identify the affinities of Y-QA31 for different G protein-coupled receptors. [(35)S]GTPγS-binding assays and Ca(2+) imaging were used to assess its intrinsic activities.

Effects of D-cycloserine on extinction and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference.

d-Cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist at the strychnine-insensitive glycine recognition site on the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, has been shown to facilitate the extinction and prevent the relapse of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) when administered before or after each extinction trail. However, some studies have suggested that DCS does not influence or even enhance relapse of seeking behavior on cocaine self-administration (SA) in rats or cocaine-dependent individuals undergoing clinical exposure treatment. Furthermore, there are no reports on the effects of DCS and the extinction of morphine-conditioned behaviors in mice.

Protective effect of the daming capsule on impaired baroreflexes in STZ-induced diabetic rats with hyperlipoidemia.

Background: The Daming capsule (DMC) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat hyperlipoidemia. Both clinic trials and studies on animal models have demonstrated that DMC is beneficial against diabetic symptoms. Impairment of the baroreflex can cause life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).