Anorectic effect of COR659 in a rat model of overeating.

COR659 is a new compound, the action of which is exerted via a dual mechanism: positive allosteric modulation of the GABAB receptor; antagonism or inverse agonism at the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Recent lines of experimental evidence have indicated that COR659 potently and effectively reduced operant self-administration of and reinstatement of seeking behaviour for a chocolate-flavoured beverage. The present study was designed to assess whether the ability of COR659 to diminish these addictive-like, food-motivated behaviours extended to a rat model of overeating palatable food.

Environmental enrichment augments binge-like alcohol drinking in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats.

Exposure of Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats to an enriched environment (EE) reduced different aspects of operant alcohol self-administration. The present study was aimed at expanding investigation of the effect of EE exposure upon a model of binge drinking composed of daily 1-h drinking sessions with unpredictable access to multiple alcohol concentrations; binge-like alcohol intakes were observed when the drinking session occurred at the last hours of the dark phase of the light/dark cycle. Starting from postnatal day (PND) 21, male sP rats were kept under three different housing conditions: impoverished environment (IE; single housing with no environmental enrichment); standard environment (SE; 3 rats/cage and no environmental enrichment); EE (6 rats/cage and multiple elements of environmental enrichment).

Exposure to an enriched environment reduces alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats.

Living in an enriched environment (EE) produces a notable impact on several rodent behaviors, including those motivated by drugs of abuse. This picture is somewhat less clear when referring to alcohol-motivated behaviors. With the intent of contributing to this research field with data from one of the few rat lines selectively bred for excessive alcohol consumption, the present study investigated the effect of EE on operant oral alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats.

Blockade of the GABAB receptor suppressed alcohol self-administration in rats: an effect similar to that produced by GABAB receptor activation.

Literature data suggest that activation and blockade of the GABAB receptor may produce similar effects on several reward-related behaviours. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate whether treatment with the GABAB receptor antagonist, SCH 50911, reproduced the suppressing effect of the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, and several positive allosteric modulators of the GABAB receptor on operant oral alcohol self-administration in rats. To this end, Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats were trained to lever-respond for alcohol (15% v/v) under the fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement.

Reducing Effect of Cannabidiol on Alcohol Self-Administration in Sardinian Alcohol-Preferring Rats.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major cannabinoid extracted from with no abuse potential. Data from recent rodent studies suggest that amelioration of alcohol-motivated behaviors may be one of the numerous pharmacological effects of CBD. This study was designed to contribute to this research, assessing the effect of CBD on operant oral alcohol self-administration in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats, a validated animal model of excessive alcohol consumption.

Suppressing effect of the novel positive allosteric modulator of the GABA receptor, COR659, on locomotor hyperactivity induced by different drugs of abuse.

COR659 is a recently synthesized positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABA receptor. Similarly to all GABA PAMs tested to date, COR659 has been reported to suppress different alcohol-related behaviors in rodents. The present study was designed to assess whether the anti-addictive properties of COR659 extend to drugs of abuse other than alcohol.

Differential Effects of Saikosaponins A, B2, B4, C and D on Alcohol and Chocolate Self-Administration in Rats.

Aims: Treatment with saikosaponin A (SSA)-an ingredient of the medicinal herb, Bupleurum falcatum-has been reported to suppress several addictive-like behaviors, including morphine, cocaine, alcohol and chocolate self-administration in male rats. The aim of this investigation was to investigate whether saikosaponins of B. falcatum other than SSA affect alcohol and chocolate self-administration in rats.

Analgesic properties of a food grade lecithin delivery system of and standardized extracts in rats.

This study investigated whether (i) the 5:1 combination of standardized extracts of and is endowed with analgesic effects and (ii) the phospholipid-based formulation of and extracts (ZAP) potentiated the analgesic effects of the plain extract combination (PEC). To this end, rats were exposed to acute pain (Tail Flick test) and chronic, inflammatory pain [Von Frey monofilament test and Randall-Selitto paw pressure test in rats treated intraplantarily with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)]. The plain combination of ineffective doses of the two extracts produced analgesic effects in healthy rats.

Anti-addictive properties of COR659 - Additional pharmacological evidence and comparison with a series of novel analogues.

A recent study found that COR659 (methyl 2-[(4-chlorophenyl)carboxamido]-4-ethyl-5-methylthiophene-3-carboxylate) reduced operant alcohol and chocolate self-administration in rats; COR659 also suppressed cue-induced reinstatement of chocolate seeking in rats. COR659 apparently exerts its effects via a composite mechanism, including positive allosteric modulation of the GABA receptor and an action at the cannabinoid CB receptor. The present study investigated whether the reducing effect of COR659 on alcohol and chocolate self-administration was maintained after repeated treatment and if COR659 affected cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking; additionally, it evaluated the ability of 9 structural analogues of COR659 - designed modifying the substituents on the phenylcarboxamido moiety and replacing the thiophene with the pyridine ring - to affect alcohol and chocolate self-administration.

Reducing Effect of Saikosaponin A, an Active Ingredient of , on Intake of Highly Palatable Food in a Rat Model of Overeating.

Recent lines of experimental evidence have indicated that saikosaponin A (SSA)-a bioactive ingredient of the medicinal plant, .-potently and effectively reduced operant self-administration of chocolate and reinstatement of chocolate-seeking behavior in rats. The present study was designed to assess whether the protective properties of SSA on addictive-like, food-related behaviors generalize to a rat model of overeating of palatable food.

Anxiolytic effect of an extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza roots in rats.

Background: Preparations from roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a herb widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, have been reported to induce a series of central effects, including sedation. In the wake of this ethnopharmacological information, the present study was designed to assess the anxiolytic potential of an extract of S. miltiorrhiza roots.

Suppressing effect of COR659 on alcohol, sucrose, and chocolate self-administration in rats: involvement of the GABA and cannabinoid CB receptors.

Rationale And Objectives: COR659 [methyl2-(4-chlorophenylcarboxamido)-4-ethyl-5-methylthiophene-3-carboxylate] is a new, positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABA receptor. This study evaluated whether COR659 shared with previously tested GABA PAMs the capacity to reduce alcohol self-administration in rats.

Results: Treatment with non-sedative doses of COR659 (2.

Suppressing effect of saikosaponin A, an active ingredient of Bupleurum falcatum, on chocolate self-administration and reinstatement of chocolate seeking in rats.

Recent lines of experimental evidence have indicated that saikosaponin A (SSA) - a bioactive ingredient of the medicinal plant, Bupleurum falcatum L. - suppressed alcohol, morphine, and cocaine self-administration in rats. The present paper was designed to assess whether the protective properties of SSA on addiction-related behaviors generalize to a hyperpalatable food such as a chocolate-flavored beverage (CFB).

A Phaseolus vulgaris Extract Reduces Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Chocolate Seeking in Rats.

Previous evidence has suggested that treatment with a standardized dry extract of Phaseolus vulgaris reduced intake and operant self-administration of highly palatable foods and fluids in rats and mice. The present study was designed to assess whether such extract was also effective in reducing seeking behavior for a highly hedonic chocolate-flavored beverage, using a "reinstatement" procedure adopted from the drug addiction research field and modeling relapse behavior. Rats were initially trained to lever-respond for the chocolate-flavored beverage under the Fixed Ratio (FR) 10 schedule of reinforcement.

Reducing effect of saikosaponin A, an active ingredient of Bupleurum falcatum, on alcohol self-administration in rats: Possible involvement of the GABAB receptor.

Recent studies demonstrated that treatment with saikosaponin A (SSA) - an active ingredient of the medicinal herb, Bupleurum falcatum L. - selectively suppressed, likely via a GABAB receptor-mediated mechanism, intravenous self-administration of morphine and cocaine in rats [Yoon et al., 2012; 2013].

Hypoglycemic Effects of a Standardized Extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Roots in Rats.

Background And Aims: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae) is a Chinese medicinal plant, the dried roots of which (known as Dan-Shen) have been used for hundreds of years in the treatment of a series of ailments, including hyperglycemia. This study was designed to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of a new, standardized extract of S. miltiorrhiza.

Anxiety-like behaviors at the end of the nocturnal period in sP rats with a "history" of unpredictable, limited access to alcohol.

Recent research found that exposure of selectively bred, Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats to multiple alcohol concentrations (10%, 20%, and 30%, v/v), under the 4-bottle "alcohol vs. water" choice regimen, in daily 1-h drinking sessions with an unpredictable time schedule, promoted high intakes of alcohol (≥2 g/kg) when the drinking session occurred over the final hours of the dark phase of the light/dark cycle. The present study investigated whether these high intakes of alcohol (a) were associated with alterations in rats' emotional state (Experiment 1) and (b) were pharmacologically manipulable (Experiment 2).

The dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitor, nepicastat, reduces different alcohol-related behaviors in rats.

Background: Recent experimental data indicate that treatment with the selective dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitor, nepicastat, suppressed different reward-related behaviors, including self-administration of chocolate and reinstatement of cocaine and chocolate seeking, in rats. This study was designed to extend to different alcohol-related behaviors the investigation on the "anti-addictive" properties of nepicastat.

Methods: Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats, selectively bred for excessive alcohol consumption, were exposed to different procedures of alcohol drinking and self-administration.

Reducing effect of the Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza, on alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats.

The dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza are highly valued in Chinese folk medicine for use in the prevention and treatment of a series of ailments. Previous studies have demonstrated that administration of standardized extracts of S. miltiorrhiza selectively reduced excessive alcohol drinking and relapse-like drinking in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats.

Protective effect of Panax ginseng in cisplatin-induced cachexia in rats.

Aim: This study investigated the protective effect of a standardized extract of Panax ginseng on multiple cisplatin-induced 'sickness behaviors' (model of cancer-induced cachexia) in rats.

Materials & Methods: Cisplatin was administered twice weekly (1-2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 5 consecutive weeks. Panax ginseng extract (0, 25 and 50 mg/kg, intragastric) was administered daily over the 5-week period of cisplatin exposure.

Binge drinking in alcohol-preferring sP rats at the end of the nocturnal period.

Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats have been selectively bred for high alcohol preference and consumption using the standard 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs. water" choice regimen with unlimited access; under this regimen, sP rats daily consume 6-7 g/kg alcohol. The present study assessed a new paradigm of alcohol intake in which sP rats were exposed to the 4-bottle "alcohol (10%, 20%, and 30%, v/v) vs.

High alcohol intake in female Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats.

Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats have been selectively bred for high alcohol preference and consumption. When exposed to the standard, home cage 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs. water" choice regimen with continuous access, male sP rats consume daily approximately 6 g/kg alcohol.

Reducing effect of an extract of Phaseolus vulgaris on food intake in mice--focus on highly palatable foods.

Different lines of experimental evidence indicate that treatment with extracts from and derivatives of Phaseolus vulgaris reduces intake of food, including highly palatable foods and beverages, in rats. The present study was designed to extend to mice these lines of evidence. To this end, CD1 mice were treated acutely with a standardized extract of P.

Reduction of alcohol intake by the positive allosteric modulator of the GABA(B) receptor, rac-BHFF, in alcohol-preferring rats.

Previous research has demonstrated that treatment with the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABA(B) receptor (GABA(B) PAM), rac-BHFF, suppressed lever-responding for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The present study was designed to extend the investigation on the anti-alcohol effects of rac-BHFF to alcohol drinking behavior. To this end, sP rats were exposed to the homecage, 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs water" choice regimen, with unlimited access for 24 h/day.

Suppression by γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid of "Alcohol Deprivation Effect" in Rats: Preclinical Evidence of its anti-Relapse Properties.

γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) reduces (a) alcohol intake and alcohol motivational properties in alcohol-preferring rats and (b) alcohol drinking and craving for alcohol in human alcoholics. The present study was designed to extend to relapse-like drinking the capacity of GHB to suppress different alcohol-related behaviors in alcohol-preferring rats. The "alcohol deprivation effect," defined as the temporary increase in alcohol intake occurring in laboratory animals after a period of alcohol deprivation, was used as model of alcohol relapse.