Anxiolytic effects of fractions obtained from Passiflora incarnata L. in the elevated plus maze in mice

Background: Plant lectins have shown promising biological activities in the central nervous system (CNS). Objective: This study evaluated the effect of DAL, a lectin isolated from the seeds of the Dioclea altissima species, having binding affinity to D-glucose or D-mannose residues, on mice behavior. Methods: Mice (n=6/group) were treated (i.p.) with DAL (0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg) or vehicle and subjected to several tests (open field/OFT, marble-burying/MBT, hole-board/HBT, elevated plus maze/PMT, tail suspension/ TST, forced swimming/FST or rotarod/RRT). Pizotifen, cyproheptadine, flumazenil, L-NAME, 7-NI, Larginine or yohimbine were administered 15 min before DAL (0.5 mg/kg) and the animals were evaluated on PMT. It was also verified whether the DAL effect depended on its structural integrity and ability to interact with carbohydrates. Results: The results showed there were no neurobehavioral changes in the mice at the RRT, FST and locomotion in the OFT. DAL (0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg) increased the behavior of grooming and rearing in the OFT, head dips in the HBT, pedalling in the TST and decreased the number of marbles hidden in the MBT. In the PMT, DAL (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and Diazepam increased the frequency of entries in the open arms and the time of permanence in the open arms without affecting the locomotor activity. The effect of DAL was dependent on carbohydrate interaction and protein structure integrity and it prevented by pizotifen, cyproheptadine, flumazenil, L-NAME and 7-NI, but not by L-arginine or yohimbine. Conclusion: DAL was found to have an anxiolytic-like effect mediated by the 5-HT and GABAergic receptors and NO pathway.

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Anticonvulsant, Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Properties of the β-caryophyllene in Swiss Mice: Involvement of Benzodiazepine-GABAAergic, Serotonergic and Nitrergic Systems

Current Molecular Pharmacology ◽

10.2174/1874467213666200510004622 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 36-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

George L. da Silva Oliveira ◽

José C. Correia L. da Silva ◽

Ana P. dos Santos C. L da Silva ◽

Chistiane M. Feitosa ◽

Fernanda R. de Castro Almeida

Keyword(s):

Receptor Antagonist ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Elevated Plus Maze ◽

Feeding Test ◽

Swiss Mice ◽

Elevated Plus Maze Test ◽

Maze Test ◽

Plus Maze ◽

Gabaergic Receptors ◽

Pre Treatment

Background: Central nervous system disorders such as anxiety, depression and epilepsy are characterized by sharing several molecular mechanisms in common and the involvement of the L-arginine/NO pathway in neurobehavioral studies with β-caryophyllene is still little discussed. Objectives: One of the objectives of the present study was to demonstrate the anxiolytic behavioral effect of β-caryophyllene (β-CBP) in female Swiss mice, as well as to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the results obtained. Methods: This study evaluated the neurobehavioral effects of β-CBP using the open field test, rota-rod test, elevated plus maze test, novelty suppressed feeding test, tail suspension test and forced swim test, as well as pilocarpine, pentylenetetrazole and isoniazid-induced epileptic seizure models. Results:: The results demonstrated that the neuropharmacological activities of β-CBP may involve benzodiazepine/GABAergic receptors, since the pre-treatment of β-CBP (200 mg/kg) associated with flumazenil (5 mg/kg, benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) and bicuculline (1 mg/kg, selective GABAA receptor antagonist) reestablished the anxiety parameters in the elevated plus-maze test, as well as the results of reduced latency to consume food in the novelty suppressed feeding test. In addition to benzodiazepine/GABAergic receptors, the neuropharmacological properties of β-CBP may be related to inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis, since pre-treatment with L-arginine (500- 750 mg/kg) reversed significantly the anxiolytic, antidepressant and anticonvulsant activities of β-CBP. Conclusion: The results obtained provide additional support in understanding the neuromolecular mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic, antidepressant and anticonvulsive properties of β-CBP in female Swiss mice.

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Replacing a Palatable High-Fat Diet with a Low-Fat Alternative Heightens κ-Opioid Receptor Control over Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072341 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2341

Author(s):

Conner W. Wallace ◽

Nari S. Beatty ◽

Sarah A. Hutcherson ◽

Heather A. Emmons ◽

Madison C. Loudermilt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Nucleus Accumbens ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Elevated Plus Maze ◽

High Fat ◽

Food Cravings ◽

Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry ◽

Diet Induced Obesity ◽

Plus Maze ◽

Weight Loss Interventions

Diet-induced obesity reduces dopaminergic neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and stressful weight loss interventions could promote cravings for palatable foods high in fat and sugar that stimulate dopamine. Activation of κ-opioid receptors (KORs) reduces synaptic dopamine, but contribution of KORs to lower dopamine tone after dietary changes is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the function of KORs in C57BL/6 mice that consumed a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) for six weeks followed by replacement of HFD with a control 10% fat diet for one day or one week. HFD replacement induced voluntary caloric restriction and weight loss. However, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry revealed no differences in baseline dopamine parameters, whereas sex effects were revealed during KOR stimulation. NAc core dopamine release was reduced by KOR agonism after one day of HFD replacement in females but after one week of HFD replacement in males. Further, elevated plus-maze testing revealed no diet effects during HFD replacement on overt anxiety. These results suggest that KORs reduce NAc dopamine tone and increase food-related anxiety during dietary weight loss interventions that could subsequently promote palatable food cravings and inhibit weight loss.

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Effects of test experience, closed-arm wall color, and illumination level on behavior and plasma corticosterone response in an elevated plus maze in male C57BL/6J mice: a challenge against conventional interpretation of the test

Molecular Brain ◽

10.1186/s13041-020-00721-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hirotaka Shoji ◽

Tsuyoshi Miyakawa

Keyword(s):

Elevated Plus Maze ◽

Plasma Corticosterone ◽

Illumination Level ◽

Test Battery ◽

Lower Percentage ◽

Behavioral Tests ◽

Elevated Plus Maze Test ◽

Maze Test ◽

Plus Maze ◽

Corticosterone Response

AbstractThe elevated plus maze test is a widely used test for assessing anxiety-like behavior and screening novel therapeutic agents in rodents. Previous studies have shown that a variety of internal factors and procedural variables can influence elevated plus maze behavior. Although some studies have suggested a link between behavior and plasma corticosterone levels, the relationships between them remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of experience with a battery of behavioral tests, the wall color of the closed arms, and illumination level on the behavior and plasma corticosterone responses in the elevated plus maze in male C57BL/6J mice. Mice were either subjected to a series of behavioral tests, including assessments of general health and neurological function, a light/dark transition test, and an open field test, or left undisturbed until the start of the elevated plus maze test. The mice with and without test battery experience were allowed to freely explore the elevated plus maze. The other two independent groups of naïve mice were tested in mazes with closed arms with different wall colors (clear, transparent blue, white, and black) or different illumination levels (5, 100, and 800 lx). Immediately after the test, blood was collected to measure plasma corticosterone concentrations. Mice with test battery experience showed a lower percentage of open arm time and entries and, somewhat paradoxically, had lower plasma corticosterone levels than the mice with no test battery experience. Mice tested in the maze with closed arms with clear walls exhibited higher open arm exploration than mice tested in the maze with closed arms with black walls, while there were no significant differences in plasma corticosterone levels between the different wall color conditions. Illumination levels had no significant effects on any measure. Our results indicate that experience with other behavioral tests and different physical features of the maze affect elevated plus maze behaviors. Increased open arm time and entries are conventionally interpreted as decreased anxiety-like behavior, while other possible interpretations are considered: open arm exploration may reflect heightened anxiety and panic-like reaction to a novel situation under certain conditions. With the possibility of different interpretations, the present findings highlight the need to carefully consider the test conditions in designing experiments and drawing conclusions from the behavioral outcomes in the elevated plus maze test in C57BL/6J mice.

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The offspring of alcohol-exposed sires exhibit heightened ethanol intake and behavioral alterations in the elevated plus maze

Alcohol ◽

10.1016/j.alcohol.2021.01.009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 92 ◽

pp. 65-72

Author(s):

Jennifer Koabel ◽

Meghan McNivens ◽

Paul McKee ◽

Ricardo Pautassi ◽

Kelly Bordner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Elevated Plus Maze ◽

Ethanol Intake ◽

Behavioral Alterations ◽

Plus Maze

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Age-dependent effect of high cholesterol diets on anxiety-like behavior in elevated plus maze test in rats

Behavioral and Brain Functions ◽

10.1186/1744-9081-10-30 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 30 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Xu Hu ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Jia Luo ◽

Shan Liang ◽

Wei Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Elevated Plus Maze ◽

High Cholesterol ◽

Dependent Effect ◽

Elevated Plus Maze Test ◽

Maze Test ◽

Plus Maze ◽

Age Dependent

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Inhibition of Central Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Exerts Anxiolytic Effects by Decreasing Brain Oxidative Stress

Journal of Medical Biochemistry ◽

10.2478/v10011-011-0009-3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 109-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Alin Ciobica ◽

Lucian Hritcu ◽

Veronica Nastasa ◽

Manuela Padurariu ◽

Walther Bild

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Angiotensin Ii ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme ◽

Elevated Plus Maze ◽

Enzyme Inhibitor ◽

Lipid Peroxidation Product ◽

Converting Enzyme ◽

Plus Maze ◽

Antioxidant Defense Enzymes ◽

Brain Oxidative Stress

Inhibition of Central Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Exerts Anxiolytic Effects by Decreasing Brain Oxidative StressThis study investigated the effects of angiotensin II and captopril intracerebroventricular administration on anxiety status and brain oxidative stress. Elevated plus maze was used in order to asses the anxiety-like behavior, while the biochemical analysis included the determination of some antioxidant defense enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and also a lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde). Our results provide additional evidence of angiotensin II induced anxiety-like effects and increased prooxidant status. Moreover, the blockade of angiotensin II, by the administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (captopril) resulted in anxiolytic effects and decreased oxidative stress status. In addition, we found a significant correlation between the time spent by rats in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and oxidative stress markers. This could raise important therapeutic issues regarding the anxiolytic effects of some angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors used primarily for hypertension, such as captopril. Also, it seems that oxidative stress could play an important part in these actions.

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