1.
Celerier, Evelyne, et al.
(författare)
Influence of the anabolic-androgenic steroid nandrolone on cannabinoid dependence.
2006
Ingår i: Neuropharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0028-3908 .- 1873-7064. ; 50:7, s. 788-806
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
The identification of the possible factors that might enhance the risk of developing drug addiction and related motivational disorders is crucial to reduce the prevalence of these problems. Here, we examined in mice whether the exposure to the anabolic-androgenic steroid nandrolone would affect the pharmacological and motivational effects induced by Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa. Mice received nandrolone using pre-exposure (during 14 days before THC treatment) or co-administration (1h before each THC injection) procedures. Both nandrolone treatments did not modify the acute anti nociceptive, hypothermic and hypolocomotor effects of THC or the development of tolerance after chronic THC administration. Nandrolone pre-exposure blocked THC- and food-induced conditioned place preference and increased the somatic manifestations of THC withdrawal precipitated by the CB1 cannabinoid antagonist rimonabant (SR141617A). The aversive effects of THC were not changed by nandrolone. Furthermore, nandrolone pre-exposure attenuated the anxiolytic-like effects of a low dose of THC without altering the anxiogenic-like effects of a high dose in the lit/dark box, open field and elevated plus-maze. Biochemical experiments showed that chronic nandrolone treatment did not modify CB1 receptor binding and GTP-binding protein activation in the caudate-putamen and cerebellum. Taken together, our results suggest that chronic nandrolone treatment alters behavioural responses related to cannabinoid addictive properties.
2.
Georgsson, Jennie, et al.
(författare)
Short pseudopeptides containing turn scaffolds with high AT(2) receptor affinity
2006
Ingår i: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0968-0896 .- 1464-3391. ; 14:17, s. 5963-5972
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Two pentapeptides, Ac-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe/Ile, were synthesized and shown to have angiotensin II AT(2) receptor affinity and agonistic activity. Based on these peptides, a new series of 13 pseudopeptides was synthesized via introduction of five different turn scaffolds replacing the Tyr-Ile amino acid residues. Pharmacological evaluation disclosed subnanomolar affinities for some of these compounds at the AT(2) receptor. Substitution of Phe by Ile in this series of ligands enhanced the AT(2) receptor affinity of all compounds. These results suggest that the C-terminal amino acid residues can be elaborated on to enhance the AT(2) receptor affinity in truncated Ang II analogues.
3.
Karlsson, Krister, et al.
(författare)
Chromatographic characterization of substance P endopeptidase in the rat brain reveals affected enzyme activity following heat stress
2006
Ingår i: Biomedical Chromatography. - : Wiley. - 0269-3879 .- 1099-0801. ; 20:1, s. 77-82
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
This paper describes a study of substance P endopeptidase (SPE)-like activity in various regions of the brain from male rats subjected to heat stress (HS). The enzyme activity was found to be affected in several brain areas including cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus[sol ]thalamus and the spinal cord following HS. Significant increases in SPE activity were observed in, for example, hippocampus and the spinal cord. SPE-containing extracts from hippocampus were pooled and subsequently purified by size exclusion chromatography (using a Superdex® 75 HR column) and by anion-exchange chromatography (using Resource Q® column). The gel permeation chromatography separated the SPE-like activity into two fractions, one of which was suggested to be identical to neutral endopeptidase owing to its molecular size and inhibitory profile. The other active enzyme fraction behaved in conformity with SPE, previously identified in human cerebrospinal fluid. The activity of the purified fraction of these two enzymes was found to be increased (27%) in HS-treated animals.
4.
Rosenström, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
Design, synthesis, and incorporation of a beta-turn mimetic in angiotensin II forming novel pseudopeptides with affinity for AT(1) and AT(2) receptors
2006
Ingår i: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 49:20, s. 6133-6137
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
A benzodiazepine-based beta-turn mimetic has been designed, synthesized, and incorporated into angiotensin II. Comparison of the mimetic with beta-turns in crystallized proteins showed that it most closely resembles a type II beta-turn. The compounds exhibited high to moderate binding affinity for the AT(2) receptor, and one also displayed high affinity for the AT(1) receptor. Molecular modeling showed that the high-affinity compounds could be incorporated into a previously derived model of AT(2) receptor ligands.
