Ejner Knud Moltzen

The role of serotonergic mechanisms in inhibition of isolation-induced aggression in male mice

The role of serotonergic (5-HT) receptor subtypes in mediation of aggressive behaviour in isolated male mice has been studied. Increase of attack latency was used as a simple measure of antiaggressive behaviour. 5-HT1A agonists (BAY R 1531, 8-OHDPAT, flesinoxan, gepirone, 5MeO DMT, buspirone, ipsapirone, BMY 14802) completely inhibit the aggressive behaviour irrespective of their intrinsic activities. Also the putative antagonists spiroxatrine and NAN 190 as well as the non-selective 5-HT1 agonists RU 24969, TFMPP, mCPP and eltoprazine have an antiaggressive effect. The mixed 5-HT1A andβ-adrenoceptor antagonists (−)-alprenolol and pindolol are ineffective and do not inhibit the effect of 8-OHDPAT. Neither does the non-selective 5-HT antagonist metergoline. The antiaggressive effect correlates with 5-HT1A receptor affinity in vitro and with generalization to the 8-OHDPAT-induced discriminative stimulus. The selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor citalopram does not inhibit aggressive behaviour. The 5-HT2 agonist DOI has an antiaggressive effect only at high doses, whereas the 5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin and the 5-HT3 antagonist ondansetron are ineffective. Prazosin (α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), clonidine (α2-adrenoceptor agonist), clenbuterol (β-adrenoceptor agonist), ketanserin (5-HT2 receptor andα1-adrenoceptor antagonist), clozapine and (−)-octoclothepin (dopamine (DA), 5-HT2 receptor andα1-adrenoceptor antagonist) all show an antiaggressive effect. SCH 23390 (DA D1 receptor antagonist) and emonapride (DA D2 receptor antagonist) are ineffective. In conclusion, 5-HT1A receptors are involved in mediation of isolation-induced aggressive behaviour in mice. The involvement of other 5-HT receptor subtypes needs further clarification. The adrenergic system may also be involved. DA antagonists are ineffective.

Assessment of relative efficacies of 5-HT1A receptor ligands by means of in vivo animal models

We have evaluated the effects of ligands with varying efficacies at beta-adrenoceptors and 5-HT1A receptors in three in vivo models reflecting pre- and/or postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor activation. Forepaw treading in rats is mediated by postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors, 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamin)tetralin)-induced discriminative stimulus is predominantly mediated by postsynaptic, but presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors might also be involved, and footshock-induced ultrasonic vocalization involves predominantly presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors. In vitro receptor binding studies demonstrated high beta-adrenoceptor and 5-HT1A receptor affinity of (-)-penbutolol, high beta-adrenoceptor and 60 times lower 5-HT1A receptor affinity of (+)-penbutolol, high beta-adrenoceptor affinity and about 100 times lower 5-HT1A receptor affinity of pindolol and (-)-tertatolol, only affinity for beta-adrenoceptors of metoprolol and ICI 118,551 (erythro-D,L-1-(7-methylindan-4-yloxy)-3-isopropylamine-b utan-2-ol, and only affinity for 5-HT1A receptors of WAY 100.635 ((N-[2-[4- (2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclo-hexane-carboxamide). (-)-Penbutolol, (-)-tertatolol, pindolol and WAY 100.635 antagonized 5-MeODMT-induced (5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine) forepaw treading in rats, and (+)-penbutolol, ICI 118,551 and metoprolol were inactive. (-)-Penbutolol, WAY 100.635 and (-)-tertatolol antagonized 8-OH-DPAT-induced discriminative stimulus in rats, pindolol and metoprolol showed a mixed antagonistic and agonistic profile. Pindolol antagonized footshock-induced ultrasonic vocalization in rats, tertatolol inhibited maximum 36% and WAY 100.635, (-)-penbutolol, (+)-penbutolol, metroprolol and ICI 118,551 were inactive. (-)-Penbutolol and WAY 100.635 reversed 8-OH-DPAT-induced inhibition of ultrasonic vocalization completely, (-)-tertatolol reversed maximum 52% and (+)-penbutolol and pindolol were inactive. It is concluded, that efficacies at 5-HT1A receptors can be estimated by applying a battery of in vivo test models that involve post- and presynaptic receptors to a variable degree. The in vivo ranking order of efficacy at 5-HT1A receptors was: WAY 100.635 = (-)-penbutolol < (-)-tertatolol < pindolol.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors: the corner stone in treatment of depression for half a century--a medicinal chemistry survey.

Inhibition of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake has been a central theme in the therapy of depression for half a century. Through the years these therapies have improved, particularly with regard to side effects, and todays selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) constitute a reasonably effective offer for the patients. However, there is still room for major improvement and considering that almost 20% of the population in the western world will experience a depressive period in their lifetime, there is a large need for improved therapies. A large spectrum of targets and strategies are currently being pursued, but so far none of these new approaches have been successful, mainly due to lack of a deeper understanding of the disease biology. Since inhibition of 5-HT reuptake ensures a certain degree of antidepressant efficacy, there has been a large interest in various combinations with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) in order to improve on the shortcomings of treatment with SSRIs. Some of these approaches have resulted in marketed antidepressants, eg combinations of SRI with norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibition, whereas other approaches are still at an experimental stage. This review attempts to present the current status of these add-on/combination approaches with particular focus on the medicinal chemistry aspects.

The antiaggressive potency of (−)-penbutolol involves both 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors and β-adrenoceptors

The relative importance of 5-HT1A and beta-adrenergic activities in the antiaggressive effects of (-)-penbutolol was studied in male mice. (-)-Penbutolol had high affinity for 5-HT1A receptors and beta-adrenoceptors, and antagonized the 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT)-induced 5-HT syndrome and the 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamin)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT)-induced discriminatory stimulus in rats. (-)-Penbutolol abolished aggressive behaviour (ED50 = 56 mumol/kg), and reversed the antiaggressive effects of 8-OH-DPAT and 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP) (ED50 = 8.1 and 2.1 mumol/kg, respectively). (N-[2-[4-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY 100635) reversed the antiaggressive effects of 8-OH-DPAT (ED50 = 0.012 mumol/kg), but did not affect the antiaggressive effects of TFMPP. The antiaggressive effect of a submaximal dose of 8-OH-DPAT was markedly potentiated by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists without 5-HT1A receptor affinity, whereas (-)-penbutolol was effective at only one dose (4.5 mumol/kg). In conclusion, the 5-HT1A receptor antagonistic potency of (-)-penbutolol in aggressive mice is attenuated by beta-adrenoceptor-induced facilitation of serotonergic neurotransmission.