Comparative studies with somatostatin and cysteamine in different behavioral tests on rats.

In the present study the effects of somatostatin and cysteamine (a selective decreaser of the somatostatin level in the body) were compared in different behavioral tests on rats. Somatostatin inhibited the extinction of active avoidance behavior 8 hr and 24 hr after intracerebroventricular (ICV) treatment, while cysteamine facilitated it 4 hr and 8 hr after subcutaneous (SC) treatment. Somatostatin did not significantly influence the cysteamine-induced facilitation of the extinction.

Effects of oxytocin and a derivative (Z-prolyl-D-leucine) on morphine tolerance/withdrawal are mediated by the limbic system.

Recent data indicate that the neurohypophyseal hormone oxytocin (OXT) and Z-prolyl-D-leucine (Z-Pro-D-Leu), a synthetic dipeptide derived from the C-terminal part of OXT, attenuate the development of tolerance to and dependence on morphine in the mouse. Biochemical and behavioral data raise the possibility that these effects of the peptides might be associated with their effects on the central nervous system and in particular on limbic brain structures. The present results confirm this hypothesis, since intracerebroventricular (i.

Increased sensitivity to picrotoxin as an index of physical dependence on alcohol in the mouse.

A relatively simple and rapid method has been developed to induce tolerance to and dependence on alcohol in mice. Alternating intraperitoneal injections of metabolically stable tert-butanol and ethanol for 4 consecutive days resulted in a physical dependence on alcohol, which was quantified by the latency and ED50 of picrotoxin-induced CNS hyperexcitability--myoclonic and tonic seizures and mortality--during the withdrawal period. The data indicate that alcohol-dependent animals in the withdrawal period are more susceptible than alcohol-naive controls to picrotoxin.

Drugs affecting brain dopamine interfere with the effect of Z-prolyl-D-leucine on morphine withdrawal.

The dipeptide Z-prolyl-D-leucine (Z-Pro-D-Leu) has been demonstrated to inhibit the development of tolerance to and dependence on morphine in the mouse. Since the dipeptide affects dopamine (DA) utilization in the terminal regions of the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal DA-ergic projections, the question has been studied of whether DA-ergic mechanisms are involved in the action of Z-Pro-D-Leu on morphine withdrawal. Both inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MPT) and inhibition of DA receptors by pimozide interfere with the effect of Z-Pro-D-Leu on naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal.

Changes in brain monoamine levels of rats during cholecystokinin octapeptide-induced suppression of feeding.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) in doses of 5 or 10 micrograms/kg was injected intraperitoneally to 24 hr food-deprived rats before a 30 min feeding period, and the dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) contents of the hypothalamus, mesencephalon, amygdala, hippocampus and striatum were measured thereafter. The experimental procedure (deprivation + food intake) alone could induce changes in the brain monoamine contents of saline-treated animals as compared to the nondeprived control group. The most striking effect was observed in the hypothalamus, in which the contents of all three monoamines decreased.

Inhibition of seizures induced by picrotoxin and electroshock by cholecystokinin octapeptides and their fragments in rats after intracerebroventricular administration.

The anticonvulsive activity of cholecystokinin octapeptide sulphate ester (CCK-8-SE), non-sulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-NS) and three different N- and C-terminal fragments were investigated against seizures induced by picrotoxin and electroshock in rats after intracerebroventricular administration. Doses of 0.8 and 80 pmol of CCK-8-SE and CCK-8-NS significantly enhanced the latency of seizures induced by picrotoxin and shortened the duration of the clonic phase of the seizures induced by electroshock.

The inhibition of tail-pinch-induced food intake by cholecystokinin octapeptides and their fragments.

The effects of intraperitoneally (ip.) and intracerebroventricularly (icv.) administered sulfated and nonsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-SE and CCK-8-NS) and their N- and C-terminal fragments on the tail-pinch-induced feeding behavior of rats were investigated.

Synthesis of potent heptapeptide analogues of cholecystokinin.

Nine new analogues of acetyl-CCK-heptapeptide (Ac-Tyr(SO3H)2-Met3-Gly4-Trp5-Met6-Asp7-Phe8-NH2 ) were synthesized by solid-phase methodology. In a first series, the Asp7 residue was replaced by hydroxy amino acid sulfate esters. In another series, Gly4 was substituted by D-Ala, while Trp5 and Met6 were replaced by their D enantiomer.

Comparative studies with beta-(Tyr9)melanotropin-(9-18) and amphetamine on open-field behavior and striatal dopamine uptake and release.

The effect of beta-(Tyr9)melanotropin-(9-18) and amphetamine on the open-field behavior and the striatal dopamine uptake and release were compared. beta-(Tyr9)melanotropin-(9-18) at doses of 1 microgram (icv) or 2 micrograms (icv) increased the ambulation of the rats, while in a dose of 5 micrograms (icv), it had no effect. Amphetamine had a similar dose-related effect on ambulation.

Effects of H-Phe-Ile-Tyr-His-Ser-Tyr-Lys-OH on the in vitro uptake and release of radiolabelled dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in rat brain hypothalamic slices.

The effects of H-Phe-Ile-Tyr-His-Ser-Tyr-Lys-OH, a hypothalamic heptapeptide with weak CRF activity were investigated on the in vitro uptake and release of radiolabelled dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT) in rat brain hypothalamic slices. In a doses of 5 X 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M the heptapeptide significantly increased the 5-HT uptake, whereas it had no effect on the DA and NA uptakes. The same doses (5 X 10(-6) M, 10(-5) M) significantly increased the DA release without affecting the NA and 5-HT release.

Phenoxybenzamine antagonizes somatostatin-induced antiamnesia in rats.

The effects of pretreatment with atropine, haloperidol and phenoxybenzamine on somatostatin-induced antiamnesia were investigated. Somatostatin itself blocked electroconvulsive shock (ECS)-induced amnesia. The receptor blockers per se had no influence on the ECS-induced avoidance latency.

The effect of beta-(Tyr9)melanotropin-(9-18) on the active avoidance and open-field behavior on rats pretreated with atropine or propranolol.

beta-(Tyr9)melanotropin-(9-18) inhibited the extinction of active avoidance behavior. The muscarinic cholinergic blocker atropine did not influence the peptide-induced inhibition, whereas the beta-receptor blocker propranolol decreased it. Furthermore, the peptide increased the ambulation of the animals.

The influence of oxytocin on the steady-state level and accumulation of serotonin in rat brain regions.

The effects of graded amounts of centrally injected [intracerebroventricular, i.c.v.

The effects of sulfated and nonsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptides on electroconvulsive shock-induced retrograde amnesia after intracerebroventricular administration in rats.

The effects of several doses of intracerebroventricularly injected cholecystokinin octapeptide sulfate ester (CCK-8-SE) and nonsulfated scholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-NS) were studied on electroconvulsive shock (ECS)-induced retrograde amnesia, as measured in a one-trial step-through passive avoidance paradigm. Both CCK-8-SE and CCK-8-NS were able to attenuate amnesia slightly when they were injected into rats 10 min prior to ECS treatment, possibly by reducing the severity of the ECS-induced seizures. Of the treatments carried out immediately after ECS, only the 0.

The effects of somatostatin, its fragments and an analog on electroconvulsive shock-induced amnesia in rats.

In the present study the effects of intracerebroventricularly [icv] administered somatostatin [linear and cyclic], somatostatin3-6, somatostatin7-10 and des AA1,2,4,5,12,13 [D-Trp8] somatostatin [ODT8-SS] were investigated on electroconvulsive shock [ECS]-induced retrograde amnesia in rats. The ECS significantly decreased the foot shock-induced avoidance latency, and thus caused retrograde amnesia. Somatostatin [linear and cyclic] in a dose of 0.

Further analysis of the effects of cholecystokinin octapeptides on avoidance behaviour in rats.

Experiments were performed to examine the acute effects of cholecystokinin octapeptides and fragments on the active and passive avoidance behaviour of rats following peripheral and central administration. Both the sulphated (CCK-8-SE) and non-sulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-NS) and also the COOH-terminal tetra-, penta-, hexa- and heptapeptides of cholecystokinin octapeptide facilitated the extinction of active avoidance behaviour and retention of passive avoidance behaviour. This latter effect of cholecystokinin octapeptides was reversed by anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide pretreatment, showing that in these test situations cholecystokinin octapeptides are able to modify fear-motivation or arousal of the animals; their effect is at least partly similar to that of the neuroleptic substance haloperidol.

Dipeptides delay the onset of morphine withdrawal in the mouse.

The effect of dipeptides was studied on naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in the mouse. In accordance with previous data, s.c.

Effect of somatostatin and its fragments on turning behaviour induced by unilateral substantia nigra lesion in the rat.

The effect of somatostatin and its two tetrapeptide fragments was investigated on turning activity induced by unilateral substantia nigra lesion in rats. Somatostatin in a dose of 0.6 nM had no action on the turning behavior, while a dose of 6 nM increased slightly while a dose of 12 nM significantly the contralateral turning.

Effects of a new antidepressant drug on active avoidance behavior in rats. Comparative study with tricyclic antidepressants.

The effects of a new antidepressant drug, EGYT-475 (1-benzyl-4-(2'-pyridylcarbonyl)-piperazine) on the acquisition and extinction of conditioned avoidance behavior following short and long-term treatment were studied in rats. The effects were compared with those of amitriptyline, imipramine and desipramine. In a six-day acquisition period, EGYT-475 in a 200 mg/kg dose p.

Effect of intracerebroventricular administration of beta-/Tyr9/-melanotropin-/9-18/ on rotational behavior induced by substantia nigra lesion in rats.

beta-/Tyr9/melanotropin-/9-18/ administered intracerebroventricularly /icv./ in doses of 1 microgram/rat or 10 micrograms/rat had no influence on the substantia nigra lesion-induced turning activity of rats, however, it was able to potentiate apomorphine-induced contralateral turning. In a dose of 20 micrograms/rat /icv.

Structure-activity and dose-effect relationships of the antagonism of picrotoxin-induced seizures by cholecystokinin, fragments and analogues of cholecystokinin in mice.

Intraperitoneal administration of cholecystokinin octapeptide sulphate ester (CCK-8-SE) and nonsulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-NS) enhanced the latency of seizures induced by picrotoxin in mice. Experiments with N- and C-terminal fragments revealed that the C-terminal tetrapeptide (CCK-5-8) was the active centre of the CCK octapeptide molecule. The analogues CCK-8-SE and CCK-8-NS (dose range 0.

Catecholamine utilization in distinct mouse brain nuclei during acute morphine treatment, morphine tolerance and withdrawal syndrome.

The steady-state levels and utilization (alpha-MPT-induced disappearance) of noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) were measured in distinct mouse brain nuclei after acute morphine challenge, in mice rendered tolerant to morphine, and during the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal syndrome. Mouse brain nuclei containing mainly the cell body areas and some terminal projections of major NA- and DA-containing pathways were selected (nucleus tractus solitarii, locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, area tegmentalis ventralis and nucleus caudatus, nucleus accumbens, gyrus dentatus hippocampi, nucleus raphe dorsalis respectively). Acute morphine treatment reduced the utilization of NA in all brain nuclei but the substantia nigra.

Effect of cholecystokinin on self-stimulation behavior in rats.

Experiments were performed to examine the effects of intracerebroventricularly administered cholecystokinin octapeptide sulfate ester (CCK-8-SE) and unsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-NS) on electrical self-stimulation behavior elicited from the medial forebrain bundle. CCK-8-SE and CCK-8-NS in 80 pmol doses reduced the response rate of self-stimulation behavior 22-30 min following injection, while 400 pmol doses of these peptides attenuated self-stimulation behavior between 13 and 36 min. It is suggested that CCK-8-SE and CCK-8-NS interact with central rather than peripheral nervous mechanisms.

The effect of somatostatin on self-stimulation behavior in atropine- and methysergide-pretreated rats.

The effect of somatostatin on lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation was investigated in atropine- and methysergide-pretreated rats. Somatostatin markedly decreased the self-stimulation rate of the animals. Atropine in a dose which had no action on self-stimulation partly antagonized the effect of somatostatin.

Influence of dipeptides on precipitated morphine withdrawal in the mouse.

Effects of various dipeptides on naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal were studied in the mouse. Mice were rendered dependent on morphine by implantation of morphine pellets and the withdrawal syndrome was measured by the latency of the onset of stereotyped jumpings. In accordance with previous data, subcutaneous injection of Z-prolyl-D-leucine significantly delayed the onset of morphine withdrawal.