Kayo Morita

Role of vanilloid VR1 receptor in thermal allodynia and hyperalgesia in diabetic mice

We examined the role of the vanilloid VR1 receptor in the thermal hyperalgesia and allodynia seen in diabetic mice. Tail-flick latencies at source voltages of 35 and 50 V for a 50-W projection bulb in diabetic mice were significantly shorter than those in non-diabetic mice. Tail-flick latencies at 35 and 50 V in diabetic mice were increased by pretreatment with anti-vanilloid VR1 receptor serum. Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of anti-VR1 serum resulted in a significant increase in the tail-flick latency at 50 V in non-diabetic mice. However, i.t. pretreatment with anti-vanilloid VR1 receptor serum did not affect the tail-flick latency at a heat intensity of 35 V in non-diabetic mice. Thus, it seems likely that thermal allodynia and hyperalgesia in diabetic mice may be due to the sensitization of vanilloid VR1 receptors in primary sensory neurons in the spinal cord.

Effects of T-82, a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on impaired learning and memory in passive avoidance task in rats

Effects of 2-[2-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-9-methoxy-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-one hemifumarate (T-82), a new quinoline derivative, on drug- and basal forebrain lesion-induced amnesia models were examined in rats. Scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and cycloheximide (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.) shortened the step-through latency in the passive avoidance task. T-82 significantly ameliorated amnesia induced by scopolamine or cycloheximide at the dose of 0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg, p.o., and 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, p.o., respectively. Basal forebrain lesions with ibotenic acid shortened the step-through latency in passive avoidance task. An acute (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg, p.o.) or subacute (0.03-0.3 mg/kg, p.o., for 7 days) treatment of T-82 significantly reversed the shortened latency. These results suggest that T-82 may ameliorate the impairment of memory induced by acetylcholinergic dysfunction.

Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on immobility time in the tail suspension test in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

We examined the effects of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and desipramine, a selective noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitor, given alone or in combination with diazepam on immobility time in the tail suspension test in diabetic mice. Immobility time was significantly longer in diabetic than in nondiabetic mice. Diazepam (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg s.c.) dose-dependently decreased immobility time in diabetic mice to the level observed in saline-treated nondiabetic mice. However, diazepam had no significant effect on immobility time in nondiabetic mice. Fluoxetine (3-56 mg/kg i.p.) and desipramine (1-30 mg/kg i.p.) produced marked, dose-dependent suppression of immobility time in both nondiabetic and diabetic mice. However, anti-immobility effects of fluoxetine and desipramine in diabetic mice were less than those in nondiabetic mice. Fluvoxamine (3-30 mg/kg i.p.) produced a dose-dependent suppression of immobility time in nondiabetic mice but not in diabetic mice. The anti-immobility effects of fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and desipramine in nondiabetic mice were antagonized by pretreatment with diazepam (0.3 mg/kg s.c.). Furthermore, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and desipramine had no effect on the immobility time in diazepam (0.3 mg/kg s.c.)-treated diabetic mice. These results indicate that the anti-immobility effects of SSRIs and desipramine are less in diabetic mice than in nondiabetic mice in the tail suspension test. Furthermore, in diabetic mice, SSRIs and selective NA reuptake inhibitors did not affect immobility time even though the prolonged duration of immobility was suppressed by pretreatment with diazepam.

Involvement of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels in the anti-tussive effect of moguisteine.

The effect of glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel blocker, on the anti-tussive effect of moguisteine and of pinacidil, an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel opener in guinea pigs was studied. Pinacidil (1 and 5 mg/kg, subcutaneous (s.c.)) dose-dependently reduced the number of coughs. The anti-tussive effect of pinacidil was significantly and dose-dependently antagonized by pre-treatment with glibenclamide (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.). Moguisteine (1 and 5 mg/kg, s.c.) dose-dependently reduced the number of coughs. The anti-tussive effect of moguisteine was also reduced by pre-treatment with glibenclamide, in a dose-dependent manner. However, pre-treatment with glibenclamide had no effect on the anti-tussive effects of dihydrocodeine and dextromethorphan. Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg, i.p.), by itself, had no significant effect on the number of coughs. These results suggest that pinacidil and moguisteine may exert their anti-tussive effects through the activation of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels. Furthermore, it is possible that ATP-sensitive K(+) channels may be involved in the anti-tussive effect of peripherally acting non-narcotic anti-tussive drugs.

Effects of the Experimental Diabetes on Dopamine D1 Receptor-Mediated Locomotor-Enhancing Activity in Mice

The effects of diabetes on the dopamine-related locomotor-enhancing activities were studied in mice. Although spontaneous locomotor activity in diabetic mice was significantly greater than that in nondiabetic mice, the locomotor-enhancing effects of methamphetamine (4 mg/kg, s.c.), cocaine (20 mg/kg, s.c.) and SKF82958 (1 mg/kg, s.c.), a selective dopamine D1-receptor agonist, in diabetic mice were significantly lower than those in nondiabetic mice. When dopamine level in the whole brain was reduced by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), spontaneous locomotor activity was significantly reduced in both nondiabetic and diabetic mice. There was no significant difference in the total spontaneous locomotor activity counts within 3 h between 6-OHDA-treated nondiabetic and 6-OHDA-treated diabetic mice. Furthermore, the locomotor-enhancing effect of SKF82958 in 6-OHDA-treated diabetic mice was also significantly lower than that in 6-OHDA-treated nondiabetic mice. In a binding assay, the Bmax values of [3H]SCH23390 binding to whole-brain membranes of diabetic mice were significantly lower than those in nondiabetic mice. However, there was no significant difference in the Kd values between nondiabetic and diabetic mice. These results suggest that the decreased density of dopamine D1 receptors in diabetic mice may result in hyporesponsiveness to dopamine-related locomotor enhancement.

Antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist.

Several lines of evidence indicate that the opioid and cannabinoid systems produce synergistic interactions. The present study examined the opioid receptors involved in the antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2 ((R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[4-morpholinylmethyl]-pyrrolo-[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthyl) methanone mesylate), a high-affinity cannabinoid receptor agonist, in mice. WIN 55212-2, at doses of 0.3-3 mg/kg ip, produced a dose-dependent antitussive effect. This antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2 was antagonized by pretreatment with either methysergide (3 mg/kg ip), a 5-HT receptor antagonist, or naloxone (1 mg/kg ip), an opioid receptor antagonist. Furthermore, pretreatment with N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride (SR141716A, 3 mg/kg ip), a cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist, also significantly reduced the antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2. Blockade of mu-opioid receptors by pretreatment with beta-funaltrexamine (40 mg/kg sc) significantly reduced the antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2. However, pretreatment with nor-binaltorphimine (20 mg/kg sc), a kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, did not affect the antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2. Pretreatment with naloxonazine (35 mg/kg sc), a mu(1)-opioid receptor antagonist, also did not affect the antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2. These results indicate that the antitussive effect of WIN 55212-2 is mediated by the activation of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors and mu(2) (naloxonazine-insensitive)-opioid receptors, but not mu(1) (naloxonazine-sensitive)- or kappa-opioid receptors.

The antitussive effects of endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 in mice

The antitussive effects of endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2, endogenous mu-opioid receptor agonists, on capsaicin-induced coughs were examined in mice. Endomorphin-2, at doses of 3, 10 and 30 microg, i.c.v., dose-dependently inhibited the number of capsaicin-induced coughs. However, the same doses (3, 10 and 30 microg) of endomorphin-1 injected with i.c.v. had no significant effects on the number of capsaicin-induced coughs. The antitussive effect of endomorphin-2 was significantly reduced by beta-funaltrexamine, a mu(1)/mu(2)-opioid receptor antagonist, but not naloxonazine, a selective mu(1)-opioid receptor antagonist. Furthermore, the antitussive effect of endomorphin-2 was also partially but significantly reduced by nor-binaltorphimine, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist. These results indicate that the administration of the endogenous mu-opioid ligand endomorphin-2, but not endomorphin-1, into the brain produces an antitussive effect via mainly naloxonazine-insensitive mu-opioid receptors, namely mu(2)-opioid receptors and partially kappa-opioid receptors.

Antitussive effect of moguisteine on allergic coughs in the guinea pig

The effect of moguisteine, a novel peripherally acting non-narcotic antitussive drug, on allergic coughs was examined in guinea pigs. Male Hartley guinea pigs were actively sensitized to ovalbumin. The number of coughs elicited over 5 min following a 2-min exposure to ovalbumin was counted. Exposure of sensitized guinea pigs to 0.5% ovalbumin aerosol induced 22.0 +/- 3.2 coughs/5 min. Moguisteine at doses of 30 and 56 mg/kg, p.o., dose-dependently and significantly suppressed the number of allergic coughs. Dihydrocodeine at doses of 30 and 56 mg/kg, p.o., dose-dependently but not significantly reduced the number of allergic coughs. These results suggest that moguisteine may be of a therapeutic benefit in reducing allergic coughs.

Antagonistic effect of buprenorphine on the antitussive effect of morphine is mediated via the activation of μ1-opioid receptors

The effect of buprenorphine on the antitussive effect of morphine was examined in mice. Buprenorphine at doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg given i.p. alone have no effects on the % inhibition in the number of capsaicin-induced coughs. However, pretreatment with the same doses of buprenorphine for 2 hr significantly attenuated the antitussive effect of morphine (3 mg/kg, i.p.). Naloxonazine, a selective mu 1-opioid receptor antagonist, had no effect of buprenorphine on antitussive effect of morphine. These results suggest that buprenorphine antagonizes the antitussive effect of morphine via the activation of mu 1-opioid receptors.

Modification of the fenvalerate-induced nociceptive response in mice by diabetes.

We examined the effect of diabetes on the fenvalerate-induced nociceptive response in mice. The intrathecal (i.t.) or intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of fenvalerate, a sodium channel activator, induced a characteristic behavioral syndrome mainly consisting of reciprocal hind limb scratching directed towards caudal parts of the body and biting or licking of the hind legs in both non-diabetic and diabetic mice. However, the intensity of such fenvalerate-induced nociceptive responses was significantly greater in diabetic mice than in non-diabetic mice. Calphostin C (3 pmol, i.t.), a selective protein kinase C inhibitor, significantly inhibited intrathecal fenvalerate-induced nociceptive behavior with a rightward shift of the dose-response curve for fenvalerate-induced nociceptive behavior to the level those observed in non-diabetic mice. On the other hand, when non-diabetic mice were pretreated with phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (50 pmol, i.t.), the dose-response curve for intrathecal fenvalerate-induced nociceptive behavior was shifted leftward to the level those observed in diabetic mice. These results suggest that the sensitization of sodium channels, probably tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) sodium channels, by the long-term activation of protein kinase C may play an important role in the enhancement of the duration of fenvalerate-induced nociceptive behavior in diabetic mice.