showing 18 related works from this author
γ1- and γ2-melanocyte stimulating hormones induce central anxiogenic effects and potentiate ethanol withdrawal responses in the elevated plus-maze te…
2008
Little is known about the endogenous functions of gamma1- and gamma2-melanocyte stimulating hormones (gamma1- and gamma2-MSH). Although gamma-MSHs bind to melanocortin receptor subtypes 3 and 4, we have previously shown that these peptides also influence non-melanocortinergic processes, such as dopaminergic and GABAergic. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of gamma1- and gamma2-MSH (at doses 0.3, 1 and 2 nmol/mouse/5 microl) on the anxiety levels in mice in elevated plus maze. Three experimental paradigms were performed to assess the effects of peptides on: a) ethanol withdrawal; b) acute ethanol-induced anxiolytic action; c) peptides per se. We used ethanol as the model sub…
Taurine and tauropyrone: Comparative neuropharmacological studies of small doses
2007
Intra-Nasally Administered Oligopeptide Lunasin Acts as a Possible Anti-Psychotic Agent in Mice Models
2019
Background and Objectives: Previously we have shown that synthetic lunasin, a 43 amino acid residue-containing peptide, after its central (intracisternal) administration in mice demonstrated antagonism against dopaminergic drug behavioural effects, indicating a putative antipsychotic/anti-schizophrenic profile of lunasin. The aims of the present studies were: to test whether lunasin would show an influence on the dopaminergic system after intranasal administration, and to examine the effect(s) of lunasin on serotonin and glutamatergic systems, which could play an essential role in antipsychotic action. Materials and Methods: Lunasin was administered intra-nasally at doses 0.1 and 1 nmol/mou…
Comparative study of taurine and tauropyrone: GABA receptor binding, mitochondrial processes and behaviour.
2011
Abstract Objectives Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, has high hydrophilicity and is poorly absorbed. Tauropyrone, a taurine-containing 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, is suggested to have greater activity than taurine owing to improved physicochemical properties that facilitate delivery of the compound to target cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether the 1,4-dihydropyridine moiety in tauropyrone improves the pharmacological efficacy of taurine in vitro and in vivo. Methods The effects of taurine and tauropyrone, as well as of the 1,4-dihydropyridine moiety were compared in in-vitro experiments to determine the binding to GABA receptors and influence on mitochondrial p…
Antioxidative, hypoglycaemic and hepatoprotective properties of five Vaccinium spp. berry pomace extracts
2019
Lunasin-induced behavioural effects in mice: Focus on the dopaminergic system
2013
The present study for the first time is devoted to identify central effects of synthetic lunasin, a 43 amino acid peptide. A markedly expressed neuroleptic/cataleptic effect was observed at low (0.1-10 nmol/mouse) centrally administered doses in male C57Bl/6 mice. Lunasin considerably reduced the amphetamine hyperlocomotion but weakly apomorphine climbing behaviour. No influence on ketamine and bicuculline effects was observed. Binding assay studies demonstrated modest affinity of lunasin for the dopamine D₁ receptor (Ki=60 ± 15 μM). In a functional assay of cAMP accumulation on live cells lunasin antagonised apomorphine effect on D₁ receptor activation (pEC₅₀=6.1 ± 0.3), but had no effect …
Evaluation of “Stress Relief” Dietary Supplement on Animal Stress Level and Locomotion
2018
Abstract Search of new approaches for harmless, non-medication treatment of body dysfunctions is still on the agenda of vet and human practitioners and researchers as well. This study presents evaluation of the effect of “Stress Relief” dietary supplement (SR) on mice behaviour under different acute short-term stress conditions and treatment duration. Five experiments were performed and in each 40 animals were randomly split into four (I–IV) groups, where I and II — non-stressed mice, III and IV — stressed animals, I and III received water with trace mineral solution (TMS), II and IV received water with SR. As stress factors, forced swimming, rodent predator odour or both together were appl…
Dabas vielu ietekme uz peļu uzvedības reakcijām
2014
Elektroniskā versija nesatur pielikumus
Neuroprotective Properties of Mildronate, a Small Molecule, in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
2010
Previously, we have found that mildronate [3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazinium) propionate dihydrate], a small molecule with charged nitrogen and oxygen atoms, protects mitochondrial metabolism that is altered by inhibitors of complex I and has neuroprotective effects in an azidothymidine-neurotoxicity mouse model. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mildronate in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that was generated via a unilateral intrastriatal injection of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6‑OHDA). We assessed the expression of cell biomarkers that are involved in signaling cascades and provide neural and glial integration: the neuronal marker TH (tyrosine hydroxylase); …
Neuroinflammation and acetylcholinesterase overexpression as the main targets for low doses of GABA-A receptor agonists in Alzheimer's disease rat mo…
2018
Carnitine congener mildronate protects against stress- and haloperidol-induced impairment in memory and brain protein expression in rats.
2014
The present study investigates the efficacy of mildronate, a carnitine congener, to protect stress and haloperidol-induced impairment of memory in rats and the expression of brain protein biomarkers involved in synaptic plasticity, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), acetylcholine esterase and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67). Two amnesia models were used: 2h immobilization stress and 3-week haloperidol treatment. Stress caused memory impairment in the passive avoidance test and induced a significant 2-fold BDNF elevation in hippocampal and striatal tissues that was completely inhibited by mildronate. Mildronate decreased the level of GAD67 (but not acetylcholine esterase) e…
Pilot study to evaluate the assessment methods of the basic pharmacology course at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Latvia
2018
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Juice Exerts an Anticonvulsant Effect in Mice through Binding to GABA Receptors
2008
Naturally occurring benzodiazepines have been identified in regular food such as wheat and potato, but there is still no evidence that potato extracts can affect CNS responses in vivo. Here we found that undiluted potato juice and potato juice diluted with saline 1 : 2 administered 10 min intracisternally ( I. C.) and 30 min per os before bicuculline exerted significant anticonvulsant activity in the bicuculline-induced seizure threshold test in mice. In vitro, potato juice from different harvests at dilution series from 10 % to 0.000001 %, diluted 100,000-fold, displaced 50 % of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor ligand [ (3)H]GABA and diluted 40-fold displaced 50 % of [(3)H]flunitraz…
Intranasal Administration of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Human Teeth Stem Cells Improves Motor Symptoms and Normalizes Tyrosine Hydroxylase E…
2018
Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. At present, there is no effective cure for PD; treatments are symptomatic and do not halt progression of neurodegeneration. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can cross the blood–brain barrier and represent promising alternative to the classical treatment strategies. In the present study, we examined therapeutic effects of intranasal administration of EVs derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth stem cells (SHEDs) on unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) medial forebrain bundle (MFB) rat model of PD. CatWalk gait tests revealed that EVs effectively suppressed 6-OHDA-…
Distinct influence of atypical 1,4-dihydropyridine compounds in azidothymidine-induced neuro- and cardiotoxicity in mice ex vivo.
2008
This study demonstrates the effective protection by compounds of atypical 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) series cerebrocrast, glutapyrone and tauropyrone against neuro- and cardiotoxicity caused by the model compound azidothymidine, a well-known mitochondria-compromising anti-HIV drug. In previous in vitro experiments, we have demonstrated distinct effects of these DHP compounds to influence mitochondrial functioning. In the present in vivo experiments, DHP compounds were administered intraperitoneally in mice daily for 2 weeks, per se and in combinations with azidothymidine at doses: azidothymidine 50 mg/kg; cerebrocrast 0.1 mg/kg; glutapyrone 1 mg/kg; and tauropyrone 1 mg/kg. At the end of the…
GABAA agonist muscimol ameliorates learning/memory deficits in streptozocin-induced Alzheimer’s disease non-transgenic rat model
2015
Background: GABAergic inhibitory action regulates learning/memory processes and contributes to neurotransmission (Gong et al., 2009). Existing evidence suggests GABAergic system is involved in pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) via inhibitory interneuron deficits (Verret et al., 2012) and decrease in functional GABAA receptors (Limon et al., 2012). In vitro, GABA and muscimol (GABAA receptor agonist) blocked neuronal death induced by Aβ in rat hippocampal and cortical neurons (Paula-Lima et al., 2005). Our concept: low doses of muscimol may prevent learning/memory deficits in intracerebroventricular (icv) streptozocin (STZ)-induced AD non-transgenic rat model. Methods. Wistar male …
Betulin binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and exerts anticonvulsant action in mice.
2007
The lupane type pentacyclic triterpenes: lupeol, betulin, and betulinic acid are widely distributed natural compounds. Recently, pharmaceutical compositions from plant extracts (family Marcgraviaceae) containing betulinic acid, have been patented as anxiolytic remedies. To extend our knowledge of the CNS effects of the triterpenes, we suggest here that the chemically related lupeol, betulin and betulinic acid may interact with the brain neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in vitro and in vivo. Using radioligand receptor-binding assay, we showed that only betulin bound to the GABA(A)-receptor sites in mice brain in vitro and antagonised the GABA(A)-receptor antagonist b…
Mildronate and its neuroregulatory mechanisms: targeting the mitochondria, neuroinflammation, and protein expression.
2013
This review for the first time summarizes the data obtained in the neuropharmacological studies of mildronate, a drug previously known as a cardioprotective agent. In different animal models of neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases, we demonstrated its neuroprotecting activity. By the use of immunohistochemical methods and Western blot analysis, as well as some selected behavioral tests, the new mechanisms of mildronate have been demonstrated: a regulatory effect on mitochondrial processes and on the expression of nerve cell proteins, which are involved in cell survival, functioning, and inflammation processes. Particular attention is paid to the capability of mildronate to stimulate…