Mephedrone, a synthetic cathinone, is widely abused by adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to determine: (i) whether prior mephedrone exposure would alter ethanol reward and (ii) whether age and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are important in this regard. In our research, male Wistar rats at postnatal day 30 (PND30) received mephedrone at the dose of 10 mg/kg, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are one of the most common consequences of ethanol exposure during pregnancy. In adulthood, these disorders can be manifested by learning and memory deficits and depressive-like behavior. Ethanol-induced oxidative stress may be one of the factors that induces FASD development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPerinatal alcohol exposure can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), usually first diagnosed in childhood, that are characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity and learning and memory disability, among others. To test the hypothesis that dopamine signaling is one of the main factors underlying these impairments, a new atypical dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitor, CE-123 (1, 3 or 10 mg/kg) was assessed for its potential to overcome the ethanol-induced behavioral effects in a rat model of FASD. In the present study, neonatal rats were exposed to alcohol intubations across the neonatal period (postnatal day (PND)4-9, the third trimester equivalent of human gestation) and, after weaning, the animals (male rats) were assigned randomly to three groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomolecules
April 2021
Ethanol exposure during pregnancy alters the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the fetal brain. Hence, in adult rats exposed to ethanol during the neonatal period, we investigated the influence of rapamycin, an mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitor, on deficits in spatial memory and reversal learning in the Barnes maze task, as well as the ethanol-induced rewarding effects (1.0 or 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomolecules
February 2021
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/ threonine kinase, is implicated in synaptic plasticity by controlling protein synthesis. Research suggests that ethanol exposure during pregnancy alters the mTOR signaling pathway in the fetal hippocampus. Thus, we investigated the influence of pre-treatment with rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, on the development of recognition memory deficits in adult rats that were neonatally exposed to ethanol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA synthetic cathinone, mephedrone is widely abused by adolescents and young adults. Despite its widespread use, little is known regarding its long-term effects on cognitive function. Therefore, we assessed, for the first time, whether (A) repeated mephedrone (30 mg/kg, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of AMN082, the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 7 (mGlu) allosteric agonist on different stages of memory processes connected with fear conditioning in the passive avoidance (PA) learning task in mice and negative emotional state (anxiety-like) induced by ethanol- and morphine-withdrawal in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test in rats. To perform the PA test, AMN082 (1.25, 2.
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