Kelli R. Rodvelt

SA 4503 attenuates cocaine-induced hyperactivity and enhances methamphetamine substitution for a cocaine discriminative stimulus

Cocaine exhibits preferential (~15-fold) affinity for σ₁ over σ₂ sigma receptors, and previous research has shown an interaction of σ₁ receptor-selective ligands and cocaines behavioral effects. The present study investigated the effect of the putative sigma receptor agonist SA 4503 (1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine dihydrochloride) on cocaines locomotor stimulatory and discriminative stimulus properties. At doses without intrinsic activity, SA 4503 dose-dependently attenuated cocaine-induced hyperactivity in mice. This inhibition was overcome by increasing the cocaine dose. In rats trained to use cocaine as a discriminative stimulus in a drug discrimination task, doses of SA 4503 that did not substitute for the cocaine stimulus did not alter the cocaine substitution curve. However, SA 4503 potentiated the effect of methamphetamine to substitute for the cocaine stimulus. These data support a role for sigma receptors in the locomotor-activating properties of cocaine and, importantly, indicate a role for these receptors in the discriminative stimulus effects of methamphetamine. The data also suggest sigma receptors mediate the activity of different dopamine pathways responsible for the behavioral effects of psychostimulants.

The sigma receptor agonist SA4503 both attenuates and enhances the effects of methamphetamine

BACKGROUND Methamphetamines behavioral effects have been attributed to its interaction with monoamine transporters; however, methamphetamine also has affinity for sigma receptors. METHOD The present study investigated the effect of the sigma receptor agonist SA 4503 and the sigma receptor antagonists BD-1047 and BD-1063 on methamphetamine-evoked [(3)H]dopamine release from preloaded rat striatal slices. The effect of SA 4503 on methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and on the discriminative stimulus properties of methamphetamine also was determined. RESULTS SA 4503 attenuated methamphetamine-evoked [(3)H]dopamine release in a concentration-dependent manner. BD-1047 and BD-1063 did not affect release. SA 4503 dose-dependently potentiated and attenuated methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity. SA 4503 pretreatment augmented the stimulus properties of methamphetamine. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that SA 4503 both enhances and inhibits methamphetamines effects and that sigma receptors are involved in the neurochemical, locomotor stimulatory and discriminative stimulus properties of methamphetamine.

Ketamine induces hyperactivity in rats and hypersensitivity to nicotine in rat striatal slices.

The symptoms of schizophrenia can be modeled in rats through blockade of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which induces changes in central dopamine circuits. These circuits also contain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are activated by nicotine. A role for nicotine in the etiology of schizophrenia is supported by clinical observations of high tobacco use rates in individuals experiencing the psychopathology. The present study investigated the effect of the ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist ketamine on the function of striatal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to understand better the potential role of these receptors in schizophrenia. Ketamine (0.1-300 microM) was ineffective to evoke [3H] overflow from rat striatal slices preloaded with [3H]dopamine. Application of psychotomimetic ketamine concentrations (1-10 microM) to striatal slices augmented nicotine-evoked [3H] overflow. Finally, rats received ketamine (30-50 mg/kg) injections for 30 days, to model the development of the disorder, and hyperactivity was observed, although repeated ketamine treatment did not significantly alter nicotine-evoked [3H]dopamine overflow. These data indicate that the function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that mediate dopamine release are altered by ketamine, and support a role for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in schizophrenia pathology.

Could Sigma Receptor Ligands be a Treatment for Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamines effects are generally considered to be mediated via monoamine transporters; however, it has comparable affinity for sigma receptors. Sigma receptors influence the downstream dopamine systems that are targeted by methamphetamine treatment. Research investigating the effect of sigma receptor agonists on methamphetamine-associated neurochemical and behavioral properties remains controversial; however, the general trend indicates an enhancement of stimulant effects. In contrast, sigma receptor antagonists attenuate methamphetamine-induced neurotoxic and behavioral properties. Together, these studies highlight an important role for sigma receptors in methamphetamines addictive properties and the consequences of methamphetamine intoxication. Additional research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying their involvement and their role as a potential target for anti-methamphetamine pharmacotherapies.

NMDA receptor blockade augmented nicotine-evoked dopamine release from rat prefrontal cortex slices.

Nicotine evokes dopamine release through activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and tobacco cigarette smoking is more prevalent among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Blockade of ionotropic glutamate (NMDA) receptors can induce changes in central dopamine and glutamate circuits, which models the symptoms of schizophrenia. The effect of the NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine, on the effect of nicotine in rat prefrontal cortex was examined using a slice superfusion assay in which cortical slices were preloaded with [(3)H] dopamine. A wide range of ketamine concentrations (0.1-300 microM) did not evoke [(3)H] overflow from slices, indicating that NMDA receptor blockade did not induce dopamine release. Ketamine, at concentrations that model the symptoms of schizophrenia (1-10 microM), augmented the effect of nicotine (1-100 microM) to evoke [(3)H] overflow from slices and decreased the threshold nicotine concentration to evoke [(3)H] overflow. This indicates that NMDA receptor blockade increased the potency and efficacy of nicotine to evoke dopamine release from prefrontal cortex slices, suggesting that ketamine induced hypersensitivity to nicotine. The present results support a role for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia.