scholarly journals Aqueous Extract of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae Exerts Anxiolytic Effects during Nicotine Withdrawal via Improvement of Amygdaloid CRF/CRF1R Signaling

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changhong Gu ◽  
ZhengLin Zhao ◽  
Xiaodong Zhu ◽  
Tong Wu ◽  
Bong Hyo Lee ◽  
...  

Anxiety during nicotine withdrawal (NicW) is a key risk factor for smoking relapse. Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS), which is a prototypical hypnotic-sedative herb in Oriental medicine, has been clinically used to treat insomnia and general anxiety disorders for thousands of years. Thus, the present study evaluated the effects of the aqueous extract of SZS (AESZS) on NicW-induced anxiety in male rats that received subcutaneous administrations of nicotine (Nic) (0.4 mg/kg, twice a day) for 7 d followed by 4 d of withdrawal. During NicW, the rats received four intragastric treatments of AESZS (60 mg/kg/d or 180 mg/kg/d). AESZS dose-dependently attenuated NicW-induced anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze (EPM) tests and 180 mg/kg/d AESZS inhibited NicW-induced increases in plasma corticosterone. Additionally, the protein and mRNA expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and CRF type 1 receptor (CRF1R) increased in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) during NicW, but these changes were suppressed by 180 mg/kg/d AESZS. A post-AESZS infusion of CRF into the CeA abolished the attenuation of anxiety by AESZS and 180 mg/kg/d AESZS suppressed NicW-induced increases in norepinephrine and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol levels in the CeA. The present results suggest that AESZS ameliorated NicW-induced anxiety via improvements in CRF/CRF1R and noradrenergic signaling in the CeA.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZhengLin Zhao ◽  
Sang Chan Kim ◽  
HongFeng Liu ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
YuHua Wang ◽  
...  

Acupuncture improves ethanol withdrawal-induced anxiety in rats in an acupoint-dependent manner. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of acupuncture on acute restraint stress- (ARS-) induced anxiety. Male rats were exposed to ARS for 3 h followed by acupuncture at either PC6 (Neiguan), HT7 (Shenmen), or a nonacupoint (tail) once a day for three consecutive days. Five minutes after the third acupuncture treatment, anxiety-like behavior was evaluated in an elevated plus maze (EPM). Additionally, plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and the concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Acupuncture at PC6, but not HT7 or a nonacupoint, attenuated anxiety-like behavior, but this attenuation was abolished by a postacupunctural intra-CeA infusion of NE. Acupuncture at PC6 also reduced the oversecretion of plasma CORT and inhibited increases in amygdaloid NE and MHPG induced by ARS. Further, Western blot analyses and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that acupuncture at PC6 prevented ARS-induced enhancements in the protein and mRNA expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase in the CeA. These results suggest that acupuncture performed specifically at acupoint PC6 reduces ARS-induced anxiety-like behavior by dampening amygdaloid noradrenergic responses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirotaka Shoji ◽  
Tsuyoshi Miyakawa

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 168 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-54
Author(s):  
O. O. Masalova ◽  
S. B. Kazakova ◽  
T. N. Savateeva-Lyubimova ◽  
K. V. Sivak ◽  
N. S. Sapronov ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 601-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
MC Bigliani ◽  
E. Grondona ◽  
PM Zunino ◽  
AA Ponce

Our studies were performed to investigate the effects of the aqueous extracts of Cecropia pachystachya and Larrea divaricata. These plants are used in folkloric medicine in infusion and were administered orally (0.76 g/kg) to male Albino Swiss mice for 16 days, on drink intake, organ weight/body weight (OW/BW × 100) ratio, histology, broqueoalveolar fluid (BALF) and elevated plus-maze (EPM). Feeding as well as body weight were unaffected by the consumption of these extracts. There were no signs of toxicity in BALF, morbidity or mortality during the study. C. pachystachya caused an increase in relative kidney OW/BW (p ≤ .05 vs control). The macroscopic and microscopic morphologic analyses of the organs were not altered by administration of these plants. A non-anxiolytic-like activity of an aqueous extract prepared from the leaves of C. pachystachya and L. divaricata in EPM was observed. We conclude that the crude aqueous extracts of leaves tested on mice orally did not produce signs of toxicity or behavioral changes in routine histological and clinical evaluation. However, knowledge of the biological activity of many herbal medicine used in Latin American is still deficient and more studies will be needed to elucidate the possible toxic effects.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Lin Zhao ◽  
Guang Wen Zhao ◽  
Hou Zhong Li ◽  
Xu Dong Yang ◽  
Yi Yan Wu ◽  
...  

Previously, we demonstrated acupuncture at acupoint HT7 (Shen-Men) attenuated ethanol withdrawal syndrome by normalizing the dopamine release in nucleus accumbens shell. In the present study, we investigated the effect of acupuncture on anxiety-like behavior in rats and its relevant mechanism by studying neuro-endocrine parameters during ethanol withdrawal. Rats were treated with 3 g kg−1day−1of ethanol (20%, w/v) or saline by intraperitoneal injections for 28 days. The rats undergoing ethanol withdrawal exhibited anxiety-like behavior 72 h after the last dose of ethanol characterized by the decrease of time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze compared with the saline-treated rats (P <.05). Radioimmunoassay exhibited there were notably increased concentrations of plasma corticosterone in ethanol-withdrawn rats compared with saline-treated rats (P< .05). Additionally, high performance liquid chromatography analysis also showed the levels of norepinephrine and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol were markedly increased while the levels of dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were significantly decreased in the central nucleus of the amygdala of ethanol-withdrawn rats compared with saline-treated rats (P< .01). Acupuncture groups were treated with acupuncture at acupoint HT7 or PC6 (Nei-Guan). Acupuncture at HT7 but not PC6 greatly attenuated the anxiety-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal as evidenced by significant increases in the percentage of time spent in open arms (P< .05). In the meantime, acupuncture at HT7 also markedly inhibited the alterations of neuro-endocrine parameters induced by ethanol withdrawal (P< .05). These results suggest that acupuncture may attenuate anxiety-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal through regulation of neuro-endocrine system.


Author(s):  
Lakshmi Pravallika Poka ◽  
Krishna Mohan G. ◽  
Venkateswara Rao K. ◽  
Shanker K.

To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles using aqueous extract of whole plant of Convolvulus pluricaulis (CPIO) in scopolamine induced amnesia model. CPIO were orally tested at the dose of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg for neuroprotective effect in scopolamine induced amnesia mice. In addition, neurobehavioral studies were carried out using elevated plus maze, Morris water maze to evaluate learning and memory in mice in normal and scopolamine induced amnesia mice. CPIO 400 mg/kg showed a significant improvement in learning and memory in the normal and scopolamine induced amnesia mice in exteroceptive models. Significant differences were observed in lipid peroxidation, catalase and acetylcholinesterase by 400 mg/kg of CPIO treated amnesic animals, when compared with untreated and scopolamine group animals. The highest dose of CPIO exhibited significant neuroprotective effect in normal and scopolamine induced amnesia mice. They also showed significant improvement in learning and memory in exteroceptive and interoceptive models and so might be of value in Alzheimer’s treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Elnaz Azizi ◽  
◽  
Fatemeh Ayoobi ◽  
Ali Shamsizadeh ◽  
Amir Moghadam-Ahmadi ◽  
...  

Introduction: Lack of high-quality sleep causes serious side effects like anxiety and changes in plasma concentration of oxalate. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of local extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) on inducing sleep (sleepiness) and anxiety in male rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were allocated in four groups (n=10). The ELF-MFs exposure (0, 10 and 18 Hz) was applied with intensity 200µT for three days (10 min/day). Sham-treated animal did not receive ELF-MF. Serum level of oxalic acid (OA) and sleepiness were measured both before first and after last exposure to ELF-MF or sham. Anxiety, sleepiness and OA were measured by using elevated plus maze, open-field test (OFT) and ELISA test, respectively. Results: Comparison of oxalate levels between before and after exposure to ELF-MF revealed that ELF-MF (10 Hz) decreased the serum level of oxalate (p<0.05). Comparison of the percent of open:closed arm entry (in elevated plus maze) between before and after exposure to ELF-MF revealed significant differences. Also, frequency, velocity and distance moved were decreased in the open-field test. Conclusion: Results of the present study demonstrated that ELF-MF with short time exposure may modulate the metabolism of OA and may modulate anxiety-like behavior or kind of induction of sleepiness in male rats.


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