Mahalakshmi Shankaran - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mahalakshmi Shankaran

Research paper thumbnail of Paroxetine is effective in desensitizing 5-HT1A receptor function in adult offspring exposed prenatally to cocaine

Psychopharmacology, 2005

Rationale: Desensitization of postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors may be responsible for the therapeut... more Rationale: Desensitization of postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors may be responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of serotonin selective uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). As prenatal cocaine exposure produces long-term deficits in 5-HT neurons in offspring, it may alter the ability of postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors to be desensitized by chronic paroxetine. Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine (1) prenatal cocaine-induced changes in 5-HT 1A receptor function and (2) the effectiveness of chronic treatment with paroxetine to produce 5-HT 1A receptor desensitization in adult offspring exposed to cocaine in utero. Methods: Pregnant rats received saline or (−)cocaine (15 mg/ kg, s.c.) twice daily from gestational days 13 through 20. Adult male offspring from each of prenatal groups were treated with saline or paroxetine (10 mg/kg/day; i.p.) for 14 days. Eighteen hours post-treatment, rats were challenged with saline or the 5-HT 1A receptor agonist (+)8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT, 0.04 or 0.2 mg/kg, s.c.). Plasma oxytocin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, renin and prolactin were determined. Results: Prenatal cocaine exposure did not alter 5-HT 1A receptor-mediated neuroendocrine responses.

Research paper thumbnail of Discovery of Novel Hippocampal Neurogenic Agents by Using an in Vivo Stable Isotope Labeling Technique

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2006

Neurogenesis occurs in discrete regions of adult mammalian brain, including the subgranular zone ... more Neurogenesis occurs in discrete regions of adult mammalian brain, including the subgranular zone of the hippocampus. Hippocampal neurogenesis is enhanced by different classes of antidepressants, but screening for neurogenic actions of novel antidepressants has been inefficient because of limitations of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling techniques. We describe an efficient in vivo method for measuring hippocampal neurogenesis involving incorporation of the stable isotope, (2)H, into genomic DNA during labeling with (2)H(2)O (heavy water). Male rodents received 8 to 10% (2)H(2)O in drinking water; DNA was isolated from hippocampal progenitor cells or neurons. Label incorporation into progenitor cells of Swiss-Webster mice revealed subpopulation kinetics: 16% divided with t(1/2) of 2.7 weeks; the remainder did not divide over 1 year. Progenitor cell proliferation rates in mice were strain-dependent. Chronic antidepressant treatment for 3 weeks, with (2)H(2)O administered during the final week, increased progenitor cell proliferation across all the strains tested. Fluoxetine treatment increased (2)H incorporation into DNA of gradient-enriched neurons or flow-sorted neuronal nuclei 4 weeks after (2)H(2)O labeling, representing the survival and differentiation of newly divided cells into neurons. By screening 11 approved drugs for effects on progenitor cell proliferation, we detected previously unrecognized, dose-dependent enhancement of hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation by two statins and the anticonvulsant topiramate. We also confirmed stimulatory activity of other anticonvulsants and showed inhibition of progenitor cell proliferation by isotretinoin and prednisolone. In conclusion, stable isotope labeling is an efficient, high-throughput in vivo method for measuring hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation that can be used to screen for novel neurogenic drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Produces Glycogenolysis and Increases the Extracellular Concentration of Glucose in the Rat Brain

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2002

Oxidative and/or bioenergetic stress is thought to contribute to the mechanism of neurotoxicity o... more Oxidative and/or bioenergetic stress is thought to contribute to the mechanism of neurotoxicity of amphetamine derivatives, e.g., 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In the present study, the effect of MDMA on brain energy regulation was investigated by examining the effect of MDMA on brain glycogen and glucose. A single injection of MDMA (10 -40 mg/kg, s.c.) produced a dose-dependent decrease (40%) in brain glycogen, which persisted for at least 1 h. MDMA (10 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) also produced a significant and sustained increase in the extracellular concentration of glucose in the striatum. Subjecting rats to a cool ambient temperature of 17°C significantly attenuated MDMA-induced hyperthermia and glycogenolysis. MDMAinduced glycogenolysis also was prevented by treatment of rats with the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 (5-HT 2 ) antagonists 6-meth-

Research paper thumbnail of Ascorbic acid prevents 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced hydroxyl radical formation and the behavioral and neurochemical consequences of the depletion of brain 5HT

Synapse, 2001

MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity has been proposed to involve oxidative stress due to increased fo... more MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity has been proposed to involve oxidative stress due to increased formation of hydroxyl radicals. Recently, MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity has been shown to be accompanied by a suppression of behavioral and neurochemical responses to a subsequent injection of MDMA. The intent of the present study was to examine whether suppression of the MDMA-induced formation of hydroxyl radicals by an antioxidant, ascorbic acid, attenuates both the MDMA-induced depletion of 5-HT and the functional consequences associated with this depletion. Treatment of rats with ascorbic acid suppressed the generation of hydroxyl radicals, as evidenced by the production of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid from salicylic acid, in the striatum during the administration of a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Ascorbic acid also attenuated the MDMA-induced depletion of striatal 5-HT content. In rats treated with a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA, the ability of a subsequent injection of MDMA to increase the extracellular concentration of 5-HT in the striatum, elicit the 5-HT behavioral syndrome, and produce hyperthermia was markedly reduced compared to the responses in control rats. The concomitant administration of ascorbic acid with the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA prevented the diminished neurochemical and behavioral responses to a subsequent injection of MDMA. Finally, a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA produced significant reductions in the concentrations of vitamin E and ascorbic acid in the striatum and hippocampus. Thus, the MDMA-induced depletion of brain 5-HT and the functional consequences thereof appear to involve the induction of oxidative stress resulting from an increased generation of free radicals and diminished antioxidant capacity of the brain.

Research paper thumbnail of A neurotoxic regimen of MDMA suppresses behavioral, thermal and neurochemical responses to subsequent MDMA administration

Psychopharmacology, 1999

Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (... more Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in the rat brain; this depletion may have some functional consequences. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of MDMA on the extracellular concentrations of dopamine and 5-HT, body temperature and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome in rats 7 days following a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Methods: One week after the rats were treated with a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA (10 mg/kg, IP, every 2 h for a total of four injections), the rats were injected with a subsequent injection of MDMA. In vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC was utilized to measure the extracellular concentration of 5-HT and dopamine in the striatum. The increase in body temperature was determined by rectal temperature measurements, and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome was scored using a rating scale following the administration of MDMA.Results: The neurotoxic regimen produced a 45% reduction in brain 5-HT concentrations. The magnitude of the MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of 5-HT, but not dopamine, in the striatum produced by an acute injection of MDMA (7.5 mg/kg, IP) was reduced in rats treated previously with the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA when compared with that in control animals. In addition, the magnitude of the 5-HT behavioral syndrome, as well as the hyperthermic response, produced by MDMA was markedly diminished in rats that had previously received the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Conclusions: It is concluded that the long-term depletion of brain 5-HT produced by MDMA is accompanied by impairments in 5-HT function, as evidenced by the deficits in the neurochemical, thermal and behavioral responses to subsequent MDMA administration.

Research paper thumbnail of Measurement of brain microglial proliferation rates in vivo in response to neuroinflammatory stimuli: Application to drug discovery

Journal of Neuroscience Research, 2007

Microglial activation is emerging as an important etiologic factor and therapeutic target in neur... more Microglial activation is emerging as an important etiologic factor and therapeutic target in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. Techniques have been lacking, however, for measuring the different components of microglial activation independently in vivo. We describe a method for measuring microglial proliferation rates in vivo using heavy water (2H2O) labeling, and its application in screening for drugs that suppress neuro-inflammation. Brain microglia were isolated by flow cytometry as F4/80+, CD11b+, CD45low cells, and 2H enrichment in DNA was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Basal proliferation rate was ∼1%/week and systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) markedly increased this rate in a dose-dependent manner. Induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice by MOG35–55 peptide stimulated proliferation of CD45low microglia, which could be distinguished from the proliferation of CD45high infiltrating monocytes. Minocycline (45 mg/kg/day, i.p.) inhibited resident microglial proliferation in both the LPS and EAE models. Thirteen drugs were then screened for their ability to inhibit LPS-stimulated microglia proliferation. Female C57BL/6 mice were given LPS (1 mg/kg), and concomitant drug treatment while receiving 2H2O label for 7 days. Among the drugs screened, treatment with isotretinoin dose-dependently reduced LPS-induced microglial proliferation, representing an action of retinoids unknown previously. Follow-up studies in the EAE model confirmed that isotretinoin not only inhibited proliferation of microglia but also delayed the onset of clinical symptoms. In conclusion, 2H2O labeling represents a relatively high-throughput, quantitative, and highly reproducible technique for measuring microglial proliferation, and is useful for screening and discovering novel anti-neuroinflammatory drugs. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Research paper thumbnail of A neurotoxic regimen of MDMA suppresses behavioral, thermal and neurochemical responses to subsequent MDMA administration

Psychopharmacology, 1999

Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (... more Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in the rat brain; this depletion may have some functional consequences. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of MDMA on the extracellular concentrations of dopamine and 5-HT, body temperature and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome in rats 7 days following a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Methods: One week after the rats were treated with a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA (10 mg/kg, IP, every 2 h for a total of four injections), the rats were injected with a subsequent injection of MDMA. In vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC was utilized to measure the extracellular concentration of 5-HT and dopamine in the striatum. The increase in body temperature was determined by rectal temperature measurements, and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome was scored using a rating scale following the administration of MDMA.Results: The neurotoxic regimen produced a 45% reduction in brain 5-HT concentrations. The magnitude of the MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of 5-HT, but not dopamine, in the striatum produced by an acute injection of MDMA (7.5 mg/kg, IP) was reduced in rats treated previously with the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA when compared with that in control animals. In addition, the magnitude of the 5-HT behavioral syndrome, as well as the hyperthermic response, produced by MDMA was markedly diminished in rats that had previously received the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Conclusions: It is concluded that the long-term depletion of brain 5-HT produced by MDMA is accompanied by impairments in 5-HT function, as evidenced by the deficits in the neurochemical, thermal and behavioral responses to subsequent MDMA administration.

Research paper thumbnail of P2-026 Kinetic studies of the amyloid-beta pathway and concurrent measurement of neurogenesis for the study of AD

Neurobiology of Aging, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Mazindol Attenuates the 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-Induced Formation of Hydroxyl Radicals and Long-Term Depletion of Serotonin in the Striatum

Journal of Neurochemistry, 2002

The formation of hydroxyl radicals following the systemic administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymet... more The formation of hydroxyl radicals following the systemic administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was studied in the striatum of the rat by quantifying the stable adducts of salicylic acid and D-phenylalanine, namely, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA) and p-tyrosine, respectively. The repeated administration of MDMA produced a sustained increase in the extracellular concentration of 2,3-DHBA and p-tyrosine, as well as dopamine. The MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of both dopamine and 2,3-DHBA was suppressed in rats treated with mazindol, a dopamine uptake inhibitor. Mazindol also attenuated the long-term depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in the striatum produced by MDMA without altering the acute hyperthermic response to MDMA. These results are supportive of the view that MDMA produces a dopamine-dependent increase in the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the striatum that may contribute to the mechanism whereby MDMA produces a long-term depletion of brain 5-HT content. Key Words: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine -Dopamine -Hydroxyl radical-Striatum.

Research paper thumbnail of Differential In Vivo Effects on Target Pathways of a Novel Arylpyrazole Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator Compared with Prednisolone

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2010

Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Although the... more Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Although they are extremely potent, their utility in clinical practice is limited by a variety of adverse side effects. Development of compounds that retain the potent immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory properties of classic glucocorticoids while exhibiting reduced adverse actions is therefore a priority. Using heavy water labeling and mass spectrometry to measure fluxes through multiple glucocorticoid-responsive, disease-relevant target pathways in vivo in mice, we compared the effects of a classic glucocorticoid receptor (GR) ligand, prednisolone, with those of a novel arylpyrazole-based compound, L5 {[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4a-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-benzo-[f]indazol-5-yl]-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanol}. We show for the first time that L5 exhibits clearly selective actions on diseaserelevant pathways compared with prednisolone. Prednisolone re-duced bone collagen synthesis, skin collagen synthesis, muscle protein synthesis, and splenic lymphocyte counts, proliferation, and cell death, whereas L5 had none of those actions. In contrast, L5 was a more rapid and potent inhibitor of hippocampal neurogenesis than prednisolone, and L5 and prednisolone induced insulin resistance equally. Administration of prednisolone or L5 increased expression comparably for one GR-regulated gene involved in protein degradation in skeletal muscle (Murf1) and one GR-regulated gluconeogenic gene in liver (PEPCK). In summary, L5 dissociates the pleiotropic effects of the GR ligand prednisolone in intact animals in ways that neither gene expression nor cell-based models were able to fully capture or predict. Because multiple actions can be measured concurrently in a single animal, this method is a powerful systems approach for characterizing and differentiating the effects of ligands that bind nuclear receptors.

Research paper thumbnail of Involvement of the serotonin transporter in the formation of hydroxyl radicals induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

European Journal of Pharmacology, 1999

. Ž . The mechanism of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA -induced depletion of brain seroton... more . Ž . The mechanism of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA -induced depletion of brain serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT has been proposed to involve the generation of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, quantification of the extracellular Ž . concentration of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid 2,3-DHBA from salicylic acid was used as an index of hydroxyl radical generation. Although both MDMA and D-amphetamine markedly increased the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the striatum, only MDMA increased the extracellular concentration of 2,3-DHBA. Treatment with fluoxetine either 1 h prior to or 4 h following the administration of MDMA reduced the MDMA-induced formation of 2,3-DHBA and also attenuated the MDMA-induced depletion of 5-HT in the striatum. These results are supportive of the view that the MDMA-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals and, ultimately, the long-term depletion of 5-HT, is dependent, in part, on the activation of the 5-HT transporter. q G.A. Gudelsky 0014-2999r99r$ -see front matter q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on Hippocampal Dopamine and Serotonin

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 1998

The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced increase in the extracellular concentration ... more The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine and the long-term depletion of 5-HT were studied in the hippocampus of the rat brain. MDMA produced a dose-dependent increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the hippocampus, as well as in the striatum. The MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the hippocampus, but not in the striatum, was suppressed in rats treated with the norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, desipramine, and in rats in which noradrenergic neurons in the hippocampus were lesioned with DSP4 (N-(2- chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromo benzylamine). However, the long-term depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus produced by MDMA was unaltered in desipramine-treated rats. These results are supportive of the view that the MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the hippocampus is the result of an enhanced release of dopamine from noradrenergic neurons. In addition, the MDMA-induced depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus appears not to involve dopamine-initiated processes, because suppression of MDMA-induced dopamine release did not attenuate the long-term depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus.

Research paper thumbnail of Paroxetine is effective in desensitizing 5-HT1A receptor function in adult offspring exposed prenatally to cocaine

Psychopharmacology, 2005

Rationale: Desensitization of postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors may be responsible for the therapeut... more Rationale: Desensitization of postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors may be responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of serotonin selective uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). As prenatal cocaine exposure produces long-term deficits in 5-HT neurons in offspring, it may alter the ability of postsynaptic 5-HT 1A receptors to be desensitized by chronic paroxetine. Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine (1) prenatal cocaine-induced changes in 5-HT 1A receptor function and (2) the effectiveness of chronic treatment with paroxetine to produce 5-HT 1A receptor desensitization in adult offspring exposed to cocaine in utero. Methods: Pregnant rats received saline or (−)cocaine (15 mg/ kg, s.c.) twice daily from gestational days 13 through 20. Adult male offspring from each of prenatal groups were treated with saline or paroxetine (10 mg/kg/day; i.p.) for 14 days. Eighteen hours post-treatment, rats were challenged with saline or the 5-HT 1A receptor agonist (+)8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT, 0.04 or 0.2 mg/kg, s.c.). Plasma oxytocin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, renin and prolactin were determined. Results: Prenatal cocaine exposure did not alter 5-HT 1A receptor-mediated neuroendocrine responses.

Research paper thumbnail of Discovery of Novel Hippocampal Neurogenic Agents by Using an in Vivo Stable Isotope Labeling Technique

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2006

Neurogenesis occurs in discrete regions of adult mammalian brain, including the subgranular zone ... more Neurogenesis occurs in discrete regions of adult mammalian brain, including the subgranular zone of the hippocampus. Hippocampal neurogenesis is enhanced by different classes of antidepressants, but screening for neurogenic actions of novel antidepressants has been inefficient because of limitations of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling techniques. We describe an efficient in vivo method for measuring hippocampal neurogenesis involving incorporation of the stable isotope, (2)H, into genomic DNA during labeling with (2)H(2)O (heavy water). Male rodents received 8 to 10% (2)H(2)O in drinking water; DNA was isolated from hippocampal progenitor cells or neurons. Label incorporation into progenitor cells of Swiss-Webster mice revealed subpopulation kinetics: 16% divided with t(1/2) of 2.7 weeks; the remainder did not divide over 1 year. Progenitor cell proliferation rates in mice were strain-dependent. Chronic antidepressant treatment for 3 weeks, with (2)H(2)O administered during the final week, increased progenitor cell proliferation across all the strains tested. Fluoxetine treatment increased (2)H incorporation into DNA of gradient-enriched neurons or flow-sorted neuronal nuclei 4 weeks after (2)H(2)O labeling, representing the survival and differentiation of newly divided cells into neurons. By screening 11 approved drugs for effects on progenitor cell proliferation, we detected previously unrecognized, dose-dependent enhancement of hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation by two statins and the anticonvulsant topiramate. We also confirmed stimulatory activity of other anticonvulsants and showed inhibition of progenitor cell proliferation by isotretinoin and prednisolone. In conclusion, stable isotope labeling is an efficient, high-throughput in vivo method for measuring hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation that can be used to screen for novel neurogenic drugs.

Research paper thumbnail of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Produces Glycogenolysis and Increases the Extracellular Concentration of Glucose in the Rat Brain

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2002

Oxidative and/or bioenergetic stress is thought to contribute to the mechanism of neurotoxicity o... more Oxidative and/or bioenergetic stress is thought to contribute to the mechanism of neurotoxicity of amphetamine derivatives, e.g., 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In the present study, the effect of MDMA on brain energy regulation was investigated by examining the effect of MDMA on brain glycogen and glucose. A single injection of MDMA (10 -40 mg/kg, s.c.) produced a dose-dependent decrease (40%) in brain glycogen, which persisted for at least 1 h. MDMA (10 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) also produced a significant and sustained increase in the extracellular concentration of glucose in the striatum. Subjecting rats to a cool ambient temperature of 17°C significantly attenuated MDMA-induced hyperthermia and glycogenolysis. MDMAinduced glycogenolysis also was prevented by treatment of rats with the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 (5-HT 2 ) antagonists 6-meth-

Research paper thumbnail of Ascorbic acid prevents 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced hydroxyl radical formation and the behavioral and neurochemical consequences of the depletion of brain 5HT

Synapse, 2001

MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity has been proposed to involve oxidative stress due to increased fo... more MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity has been proposed to involve oxidative stress due to increased formation of hydroxyl radicals. Recently, MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity has been shown to be accompanied by a suppression of behavioral and neurochemical responses to a subsequent injection of MDMA. The intent of the present study was to examine whether suppression of the MDMA-induced formation of hydroxyl radicals by an antioxidant, ascorbic acid, attenuates both the MDMA-induced depletion of 5-HT and the functional consequences associated with this depletion. Treatment of rats with ascorbic acid suppressed the generation of hydroxyl radicals, as evidenced by the production of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid from salicylic acid, in the striatum during the administration of a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Ascorbic acid also attenuated the MDMA-induced depletion of striatal 5-HT content. In rats treated with a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA, the ability of a subsequent injection of MDMA to increase the extracellular concentration of 5-HT in the striatum, elicit the 5-HT behavioral syndrome, and produce hyperthermia was markedly reduced compared to the responses in control rats. The concomitant administration of ascorbic acid with the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA prevented the diminished neurochemical and behavioral responses to a subsequent injection of MDMA. Finally, a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA produced significant reductions in the concentrations of vitamin E and ascorbic acid in the striatum and hippocampus. Thus, the MDMA-induced depletion of brain 5-HT and the functional consequences thereof appear to involve the induction of oxidative stress resulting from an increased generation of free radicals and diminished antioxidant capacity of the brain.

Research paper thumbnail of A neurotoxic regimen of MDMA suppresses behavioral, thermal and neurochemical responses to subsequent MDMA administration

Psychopharmacology, 1999

Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (... more Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in the rat brain; this depletion may have some functional consequences. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of MDMA on the extracellular concentrations of dopamine and 5-HT, body temperature and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome in rats 7 days following a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Methods: One week after the rats were treated with a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA (10 mg/kg, IP, every 2 h for a total of four injections), the rats were injected with a subsequent injection of MDMA. In vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC was utilized to measure the extracellular concentration of 5-HT and dopamine in the striatum. The increase in body temperature was determined by rectal temperature measurements, and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome was scored using a rating scale following the administration of MDMA.Results: The neurotoxic regimen produced a 45% reduction in brain 5-HT concentrations. The magnitude of the MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of 5-HT, but not dopamine, in the striatum produced by an acute injection of MDMA (7.5 mg/kg, IP) was reduced in rats treated previously with the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA when compared with that in control animals. In addition, the magnitude of the 5-HT behavioral syndrome, as well as the hyperthermic response, produced by MDMA was markedly diminished in rats that had previously received the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Conclusions: It is concluded that the long-term depletion of brain 5-HT produced by MDMA is accompanied by impairments in 5-HT function, as evidenced by the deficits in the neurochemical, thermal and behavioral responses to subsequent MDMA administration.

Research paper thumbnail of Measurement of brain microglial proliferation rates in vivo in response to neuroinflammatory stimuli: Application to drug discovery

Journal of Neuroscience Research, 2007

Microglial activation is emerging as an important etiologic factor and therapeutic target in neur... more Microglial activation is emerging as an important etiologic factor and therapeutic target in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. Techniques have been lacking, however, for measuring the different components of microglial activation independently in vivo. We describe a method for measuring microglial proliferation rates in vivo using heavy water (2H2O) labeling, and its application in screening for drugs that suppress neuro-inflammation. Brain microglia were isolated by flow cytometry as F4/80+, CD11b+, CD45low cells, and 2H enrichment in DNA was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Basal proliferation rate was ∼1%/week and systemic administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) markedly increased this rate in a dose-dependent manner. Induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice by MOG35–55 peptide stimulated proliferation of CD45low microglia, which could be distinguished from the proliferation of CD45high infiltrating monocytes. Minocycline (45 mg/kg/day, i.p.) inhibited resident microglial proliferation in both the LPS and EAE models. Thirteen drugs were then screened for their ability to inhibit LPS-stimulated microglia proliferation. Female C57BL/6 mice were given LPS (1 mg/kg), and concomitant drug treatment while receiving 2H2O label for 7 days. Among the drugs screened, treatment with isotretinoin dose-dependently reduced LPS-induced microglial proliferation, representing an action of retinoids unknown previously. Follow-up studies in the EAE model confirmed that isotretinoin not only inhibited proliferation of microglia but also delayed the onset of clinical symptoms. In conclusion, 2H2O labeling represents a relatively high-throughput, quantitative, and highly reproducible technique for measuring microglial proliferation, and is useful for screening and discovering novel anti-neuroinflammatory drugs. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Research paper thumbnail of A neurotoxic regimen of MDMA suppresses behavioral, thermal and neurochemical responses to subsequent MDMA administration

Psychopharmacology, 1999

Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (... more Rationale: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces a long-term depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in the rat brain; this depletion may have some functional consequences. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of MDMA on the extracellular concentrations of dopamine and 5-HT, body temperature and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome in rats 7 days following a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Methods: One week after the rats were treated with a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA (10 mg/kg, IP, every 2 h for a total of four injections), the rats were injected with a subsequent injection of MDMA. In vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC was utilized to measure the extracellular concentration of 5-HT and dopamine in the striatum. The increase in body temperature was determined by rectal temperature measurements, and the 5-HT behavioral syndrome was scored using a rating scale following the administration of MDMA.Results: The neurotoxic regimen produced a 45% reduction in brain 5-HT concentrations. The magnitude of the MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of 5-HT, but not dopamine, in the striatum produced by an acute injection of MDMA (7.5 mg/kg, IP) was reduced in rats treated previously with the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA when compared with that in control animals. In addition, the magnitude of the 5-HT behavioral syndrome, as well as the hyperthermic response, produced by MDMA was markedly diminished in rats that had previously received the neurotoxic regimen of MDMA. Conclusions: It is concluded that the long-term depletion of brain 5-HT produced by MDMA is accompanied by impairments in 5-HT function, as evidenced by the deficits in the neurochemical, thermal and behavioral responses to subsequent MDMA administration.

Research paper thumbnail of P2-026 Kinetic studies of the amyloid-beta pathway and concurrent measurement of neurogenesis for the study of AD

Neurobiology of Aging, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Mazindol Attenuates the 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-Induced Formation of Hydroxyl Radicals and Long-Term Depletion of Serotonin in the Striatum

Journal of Neurochemistry, 2002

The formation of hydroxyl radicals following the systemic administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymet... more The formation of hydroxyl radicals following the systemic administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was studied in the striatum of the rat by quantifying the stable adducts of salicylic acid and D-phenylalanine, namely, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA) and p-tyrosine, respectively. The repeated administration of MDMA produced a sustained increase in the extracellular concentration of 2,3-DHBA and p-tyrosine, as well as dopamine. The MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of both dopamine and 2,3-DHBA was suppressed in rats treated with mazindol, a dopamine uptake inhibitor. Mazindol also attenuated the long-term depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in the striatum produced by MDMA without altering the acute hyperthermic response to MDMA. These results are supportive of the view that MDMA produces a dopamine-dependent increase in the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the striatum that may contribute to the mechanism whereby MDMA produces a long-term depletion of brain 5-HT content. Key Words: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine -Dopamine -Hydroxyl radical-Striatum.

Research paper thumbnail of Differential In Vivo Effects on Target Pathways of a Novel Arylpyrazole Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator Compared with Prednisolone

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2010

Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Although the... more Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Although they are extremely potent, their utility in clinical practice is limited by a variety of adverse side effects. Development of compounds that retain the potent immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory properties of classic glucocorticoids while exhibiting reduced adverse actions is therefore a priority. Using heavy water labeling and mass spectrometry to measure fluxes through multiple glucocorticoid-responsive, disease-relevant target pathways in vivo in mice, we compared the effects of a classic glucocorticoid receptor (GR) ligand, prednisolone, with those of a novel arylpyrazole-based compound, L5 {[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4a-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-benzo-[f]indazol-5-yl]-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanol}. We show for the first time that L5 exhibits clearly selective actions on diseaserelevant pathways compared with prednisolone. Prednisolone re-duced bone collagen synthesis, skin collagen synthesis, muscle protein synthesis, and splenic lymphocyte counts, proliferation, and cell death, whereas L5 had none of those actions. In contrast, L5 was a more rapid and potent inhibitor of hippocampal neurogenesis than prednisolone, and L5 and prednisolone induced insulin resistance equally. Administration of prednisolone or L5 increased expression comparably for one GR-regulated gene involved in protein degradation in skeletal muscle (Murf1) and one GR-regulated gluconeogenic gene in liver (PEPCK). In summary, L5 dissociates the pleiotropic effects of the GR ligand prednisolone in intact animals in ways that neither gene expression nor cell-based models were able to fully capture or predict. Because multiple actions can be measured concurrently in a single animal, this method is a powerful systems approach for characterizing and differentiating the effects of ligands that bind nuclear receptors.

Research paper thumbnail of Involvement of the serotonin transporter in the formation of hydroxyl radicals induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

European Journal of Pharmacology, 1999

. Ž . The mechanism of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA -induced depletion of brain seroton... more . Ž . The mechanism of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA -induced depletion of brain serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT has been proposed to involve the generation of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, quantification of the extracellular Ž . concentration of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid 2,3-DHBA from salicylic acid was used as an index of hydroxyl radical generation. Although both MDMA and D-amphetamine markedly increased the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the striatum, only MDMA increased the extracellular concentration of 2,3-DHBA. Treatment with fluoxetine either 1 h prior to or 4 h following the administration of MDMA reduced the MDMA-induced formation of 2,3-DHBA and also attenuated the MDMA-induced depletion of 5-HT in the striatum. These results are supportive of the view that the MDMA-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals and, ultimately, the long-term depletion of 5-HT, is dependent, in part, on the activation of the 5-HT transporter. q G.A. Gudelsky 0014-2999r99r$ -see front matter q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on Hippocampal Dopamine and Serotonin

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 1998

The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced increase in the extracellular concentration ... more The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine and the long-term depletion of 5-HT were studied in the hippocampus of the rat brain. MDMA produced a dose-dependent increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the hippocampus, as well as in the striatum. The MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the hippocampus, but not in the striatum, was suppressed in rats treated with the norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, desipramine, and in rats in which noradrenergic neurons in the hippocampus were lesioned with DSP4 (N-(2- chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromo benzylamine). However, the long-term depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus produced by MDMA was unaltered in desipramine-treated rats. These results are supportive of the view that the MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the hippocampus is the result of an enhanced release of dopamine from noradrenergic neurons. In addition, the MDMA-induced depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus appears not to involve dopamine-initiated processes, because suppression of MDMA-induced dopamine release did not attenuate the long-term depletion of 5-HT in the hippocampus.