Anxiolytic effects of mecamylamine in two animal models of anxiety.

Clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist, may have anxiolytic properties. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the anxiolytic properties of mecamylamine in rats as measured by the Elevated Plus Maze and the Social Interaction models of anxiety and to determine if manipulation of the testing environment (either brightly lit or dimly lit conditions) influenced the results. Results indicate that mecamylamine had significant anxiolytic effects in both the Elevated Plus Maze and Social Interaction Tests and that these effects were dependent on dose administered and the level of anxiety produced under different testing conditions. If confirmed by further clinical research, nicotinic receptor antagonists like mecamylamine may represent a novel class of anxiolytics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

胆碱酯酶抑制剂类神经性毒剂诱导的犬循环衰竭救治前后血流动力学及血液内血管活性物质的变化

目的: 在胆碱酯酶抑制剂中毒诱发犬循环衰竭的模型上, 研究循环衰竭前后及N 受体拮抗剂美加明与M 受体拮抗剂阿托品救治后, 动物血流动力学及血液中血管活性物质的变化规律。方法: 健康成年雄性杂种犬, 体重12 ~ 16 kg 。随机分为4 组:对照组、美加明组、阿托品组、阿托品和美加明(剂量比10∶1) 联用组。肌肉注射敌敌畏诱发循环衰竭模型, 观察染毒前、循环衰竭时、救治15 、60 min 等时点平均动脉压(MAP) 、心室内压最大上升速率(+dp/dt_max) 、心室内压最大下降速率(-dp/dt_max) 、心肌纤维缩短速度(Vpm) 等血流动力学指标的变化及血液中一氧化氮(NO) 、内皮素(ET) 、6-酮-前列腺素F1α(6-Keto-PGF1α) 等血管活性物质的变化。结果: 与染毒前相比, 犬循环衰竭时, MAP 以及反映心脏收缩功能的指标(+dp/dt_max 、Vpm) 和反映心脏舒张功能的指标(-dp/dt_max) 均显著下降(P<0.01), 此时NO 、ET 和6-Keto-PGF1α等血管活性物质则显著升高(P<0.01) ;美加明与阿托品合用治疗15 min 时上述血流动力学指标及血管活性物质即显著好转,60 min 时基本恢复正常, 疗效均明显好于单用阿托品、美加明组。结论: 血浆NO 、ET 、6-Keto-PGF1α等血管活性物质的升高水平与胆碱酯酶抑制剂类神经性毒剂诱导的犬循环衰竭程度及病情转归相关, 美加明与阿托品之间存在协同增强作用。     

Melatonin-Activated Receptor Signaling Pathways Mediate Protective Effects on Surfactant-Induced Increase in Jejunal Mucosal Permeability in Rats

A well-functional intestinal mucosal barrier can be compromised as a result of various diseases, chemotherapy, radiation, and chemical exposures including surfactants. Currently, there are no approved drugs targeting a dysfunctional intestinal barrier, which emphasizes a significant medical need. One candidate drug reported to regulate intestinal mucosal permeability is melatonin. However, it is still unclear if its effect is primarily receptor mediated or antioxidative, and if it is associated with enteric neural pathways. The aim of this rat intestinal perfusion study was to investigate the mechanisms of melatonin and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the increase in intestinal mucosal clearance of ⁵¹Cr-labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetate induced by 15 min luminal exposure to the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate. Our results show that melatonin abolished the surfactant-induced increase in intestinal permeability and that this effect was inhibited by luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist. In addition, mecamylamine, an antagonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, reduced the surfactant-induced increase in mucosal permeability, using a signaling pathway not influenced by melatonin receptor activation. In conclusion, our results support melatonin as a potentially potent candidate for the oral treatment of a compromised intestinal mucosal barrier, and that its protective effect is primarily receptor-mediated.     

Nicotine's enhancing effects on responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers are reduced by pretreatment with mecamylamine, but not hexamethonium, in rats.

Several studies have indicated that nicotine increases responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers. We assessed the effects of subcutaneous injections of 0.3 mg/kg nicotine and two nicotinic antagonists on responding maintained by conditioned and primary reinforcers and responding during extinction in 8 Long Evans rats. Mecamylamine, a central and peripheral nicotinic antagonist, and hexamethonium, a peripheral nicotinic antagonist, were administered prior to a subset of the experimental sessions. Nicotine selectively increased responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers and mecamylamine, but not hexamethonium, attenuated this effect. These results suggest that nicotine's enhancing effect on responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers is mediated in the central nervous system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nucleus Accumbens Acetylcholine Regulates Appetitive Learning and Motivation for Food via Activation of Muscarinic Receptors.

These experiments tested whether nucleus accumbens muscarinic or nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation is required for rats to learn to lever press for sucrose. Muscarinic blockade with scopolamine (1.0 μg/side or 10.0 μg/side), but not nicotinic antagonism with mecamylamine (10.0 μg/side), inhibited learning and performance when applied to the core or shell. Further experiments showed that acute accumbens scopolamine treatment increased locomotor activity and reduced sucrose consumption. However, microanalyses of behavioral events in the instrumental chamber revealed that reductions of lever press performance during muscarinic blockade were not due to gross motor dysfunction. Accumbens core scopolamine was subsequently shown to reduce the amount of work rats would expend under a progressive ratio paradigm. These novel results implicate nucleus accumbens muscarinic receptors in the modulation of appetitive learning, performance, and motivation for food. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)