A comprehensive analysis of propofol abuse and addiction and neuropharmacological aspects: an updated review.

This review aims to assess the existing studies on propofol, a relatively new intravenous anesthetic, related to its abuse and addictive potential and to explain the neurobiological and neuropharmacological aspects of propofol addiction. Several neurobiological factors related to complex processes in the brain influence propofol abuse and addiction. In this review, we assessed the literature regarding propofol abuse and addiction, including both experimental and clinical studies.

Neurobiological and neuropharmacological aspects of food addiction.

This review aims to draw attention to current studies on syndromes related to food eating behavior, including food addiction, and to highlight the neurobiological and neuropharmacological aspects of food addiction toward the development of new therapies. Food addiction and eating disorders are influenced by several neurobiological factors. Changes in feeding behavior, food addiction, and its pharmacological therapy are related to complex neurobiological processes in the brain.

Propofol but not dexmedetomidine produce locomotor sensitization via nitric oxide in rats.

Rationale: The abused potential of some anesthetics has been debated. Measurement of locomotor sensitization is a better way to detect the neurobehavioral plasticity of addiction.

Objectives: The present study aims to explore whether propofol and dexmedetomidine are capable of inducing locomotor sensitization.

The sex-dependent anti-depressant-like effects of zeatin in rat behavioral despair model as a candidate A2A receptor ligand.

Zeatin, an adenine-derivative cytokinin has well-established functions in plants. It is also suggested to activate A2A receptors in animals, however, there is limited knowledge of its effects. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the possible effects of zeatin on depression, and our hypothesis is that zeatin might induce an anti-depressant effect via A2A receptor-linked pathways.

Germ-free animal experiments in the gut microbiota studies.

Gut microbiota has a crucial role in the maintenance of health. Increasing evidence suggests that changes or disturbances in gut microbiota may be associated with various diseases. Therefore, preclinical and clinical studies related to gut microbiota are becoming increasingly important.

Two New Factors for the Evaluation of Scientific Performance: and '.

Scientific performance of researchers that translates into academic improvement, tenure position in universities and project grants are commonly evaluated by using some bibliometric indicators. These indicators can be calculated through total number of papers and citations, impact factors of publishing journals, impact of each paper or impact of total papers. In addition, scientific impact of individuals is also determined by some indexes such as Hirsch (h) index.

Dose-dependent and opposite effects of orexin A on prepulse inhibition response in sleep-deprived and non-sleep-deprived rats.

Orexin is a novel neurotransmitter released from lateral hypothalamus, that is a crucial modulator in sleep/wakefulness system. Recent studies also suggest its possible role in the neurodevelopmental disorders, such as schizophrenia. Our study consists of two experiments, where we investigate the effect of orexin A (OXA), one of two isoforms of orexin that can pass blood brain barrier, on the prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle reflex.

Effects of propofol on conditioned place preference in male rats: Involvement of nitrergic system.

Background: Drug-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) is linked to the addictive properties of the drug used. The number of studies that have investigated the effects of propofol on CPP is limited. Research findings suggest that nitric oxide (NO) might play an important role in substance use disorders.

Modeling Symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Aims: Several studies indicate the similarity between the symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study hypothesized that prenatal exposure to ethanol (EtOH) can be used as an animal model of ADHD in Wistar rats.

Methods: At the first stage of the study, alcohol was delivered to the pregnant dams (237-252 g) by intra-gastric route throughout Gestation Days 8-20 at a dose of 6 g/kg/day.

Investigation of the role of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors on prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle reflex in rats.

Objectives: Alpha-2 adrenergic receptors target several behavioral functions. These receptors may connect with the brain pathways mediating sensorimotor gating system that associate with psychoses, and the literature that investigate the relationship between alpha-2 receptors and sensorimotor gating system is very limited and some results are controversial. Thus, we aimed to investigate the role of alpha-2 receptors on prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex which is a measure of sensorimotor gating.

Locomotor stimulation by acute propofol administration in rats: Role of the nitrergic system.

Background: The addictive potential of propofol has been scientifically discussed. Drugs' psychostimulant properties that can be assessed via measurements of locomotor activity are linked to their addictive properties. No studies that have investigated the effects of propofol on locomotor activity have been reported to date.

Dexmedetomidine induces conditioned place preference in rats: Involvement of opioid receptors.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist drug recently introduced to anesthesia practice. Certain agents used in anesthesia practice have been associated with abuse and addiction problems; however, few studies have investigated the role of DEX on addictive processes. Here, the effects and possible mechanisms of action of DEX on conditioned place preference (CPP), a model used for measuring the rewarding effects of drug abuse in rats, was investigated.

Effects of ethanol withdrawal on the activity of rho-kinase in rat brain.

Besides its effect regarding addiction, ethanol also damages the central nervous system when it is used at high doses for a long time. The increase in the activity of Rho/Rho kinase pathway leads to central nervous system pathologies such as cerebral injury and epileptogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of Rho/Rho Kinase pathway to the degenerative and addictive effects of ethanol.

Social interaction of rats is related with baseline prepulse inhibition level.

The symptoms of schizophrenia are evaluated in three general categories: positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. Disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex is commonly used to model positive and cognitive symptoms in experimental animals. On the other hand, deficient social interaction (SI) is a common model of negative symptoms.

Agomelatine strongly interacts with zwitterionic DPPC and charged DPPG membranes.

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric diseases in the population. Agomelatine is a novel antidepressant drug with melatonin receptor agonistic and serotonin 5-HT2C antagonistic properties. Furthermore, being a melatonergic drug, agomelatine has the potential of being used in therapeutic applications like melatonin as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic drug.

Varenicline disrupts prepulse inhibition only in high-inhibitory rats.

Varenicline, a widely used smoking cessation drug, has partial agonistic activity at α4β2 nicotinic receptors, and full agonistic activity at α7 nicotinic receptors. Thus it may interact with cognitive processes and may alleviate some of the cognitive disturbances observed in psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia. We aimed to test the effects of varenicline on sensorimotor gating functioning, which is crucial for normal cognitive processes, especially for the integration of sensory and cognitive information processing and the execution of appropriate motor responses.

Increased plasma agmatine levels in patients with schizophrenia.

Agmatine is an endogenous substance, synthesized from l-arginine, and it is proposed to be a new neurotransmitter. Preclinical studies indicated that agmatine may have an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was organized to investigate plasma agmatine in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls.

Chronic melatonin treatment reverses disruption of prepulse inhibition in pinealectomized and pinealectomized-plus-ovariectomized rats.

Although melatonin has been implicated in several neurophysiological systems, data on the relationship of melatonin with psychosis such as schizophrenia are limited and contradictory. Chronic effects of melatonin on sensorimotor gating deficits have also not been investigated yet. We investigated the neurobehavioral effects of chronic administration of melatonin in pinealectomized (Px) and ovariectomized (Ovx) rats.

A new target for diagnosis and treatment of CNS disorders: agmatinergic system.

A polyamine agmatine is produced through decarboxylation of L -arginine by the enzyme arginine decarboxylase and is a new neurotransmitter in central nervous system (CNS). It has been suggested that agmatine has analgesic, anxiolytic and antidepressant activities in animals. In experimental studies, it also generates some favorable effects on cerebral damages and withdrawal syndromes involved in addictive drugs.

The antinociceptive effects of intravenous tianeptine in colorectal distension-induced visceral pain in rats: the role of 5-HT₃ receptors.

Tianeptine is an unusual tricyclic antidepressant drug. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antinociceptive effect of tianeptine on visceral pain in rats and to determine whether possible antinociceptive effect of tianeptine is mediated by serotonergic (5-HT(2,3)) and noradrenergic (α(1,2)) receptor subtypes. Male Sprague Dawley rats (250-300 g) were supplied with a venous catheter, for drug administrations, and enameled nichrome electrodes, for electromyography, at external oblique musculature.

Atypical antipsychotic drugs and ethanol withdrawal syndrome: a review.

Aims: Alcoholism and psychosis are known to have common neurochemical substrates. The aim of this review is to assess the reports involved in the effects of some atypical antipsychotic agents on the signs of ethanol withdrawal syndrome (EWS) in rats. Thus, both effectiveness of these drugs in ethanol withdrawal and the association between the drug effects and the signs have been investigated here on the same animal model.

The pharmacological importance of agmatine in the brain.

Agmatine is a polyamine that is produced via decarboxylation of l-arginine by the enzyme arginine decarboxylase. It binds to various receptors and has been accepted as a novel neurotransmitter in brain. In experimental studies, agmatine exhibited anticonvulsant, antinociceptive, anxiolytic and antidepressant-like actions.