Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., popularmente conhecida como \"copaíba\", distribui-se abundantemente no cerrado brasileiro, sendo que diversas atividades biológicas já foram descritas na literatura para o seu oleorresina. Contudo, nos últimos anos, nosso grupo de pesquisa vem estudando as partes aéreas desta espécie e verificou-se que o extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas de C. langsdorffii apresentava atividade antilitiásica. Com a intenção de descobrir quais são os compostos relacionados a esta atividade, foi realizado o estudo fitoquímico das folhas. Com o auxílio de análises cromatográficas foi possível verificar o perfil de cada fração e, assim, escolher as mais promissoras para isolamento de compostos. A partir da fração em acetato de etila obtiveram-se os flavonoides quercetina-3-O-?-L-ramnopiranosídeo (quercitrina) e canferol-3-O-?-L-ramnopiranosídeo (afzelina), isolados por cromatografia contra-corrente (HSCCC), seguida de purificação por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência preparativa (CLAE-preparativa). Já a partir da fração aquosa obtiveram-se os derivados galoilquínicos 5\'\'-O-metil-3,4-di-O-galoilquínico e 5\',5\'\'-di-O-metil-3,4-di-O-galoilquínico por cromatografia de filtração em gel (Sephadex), seguida de purificação em CLAE-preparativa. Nos testes farmacocinéticos, o extrato hidroalcoólico, quercitrina e o galoilquínico 5\',5\'\'-di-O-metil-3,4-di-O-galoilquínico foram os compostos selecionados para serem estudados. Para ambos os compostos, métodos analíticos foram validados em plasma e em salina para a realização dos estudos farmacocinéticos. Realizou-se também a calibração da sonda de microdiálise in vitro por retrodiálise, para se determinar as condições a serem empregadas in vivo. De maneira geral, quercitrina se ajustou ao modelo farmacocinético de dois compartimentos e, após administração intravenosa de 1 mg/kg, apresentou meia vida curta (t1/2 = 0,40 ± 0,07 h), uma rápida (? = 11,32 ± 1,90 h-1) e boa (Vdss = 2,10 ± 0,52 L/kg) distribuição tecidual e alta depuração (CL = 6,85 ± 0,62 L/h/kg). Por análise dos microdialisados renais, a fração livre de quercitrina nos rins foi 13 vezes maior do que a concentração livre no plasma. O composto galoilquínico, por se tratar de um composto inédito, foi estudado farmacocineticamente por via intravenosa em três concentrações (1 mg/kg, 1,5 mg/kg e 2 mg/kg) e se ajustou bem ao modelo de dois compartimentos com eliminação por Michaelis-Menten, apresentando comportamento não linear (ASC0-? 103,85 ± 23,90; 273,7 ± 81,6 e 363,6 ± 142,32 ?g h/mL, respectivamente). Não foi possível quantificar a concentração livre nos rins por microdiálise para o galoilquínico, pois o mesmo se ligava a sonda. Dessa maneira, o estudo de distribuição tecidual foi realizado, demonstrando que tanto quercitrina quanto o galoilquínico apresentavam alta penetrabilidade nos rins, com uma razão tecido renal/plasma de 23,7 e 12,4, respectivamente. Com relação ao perfil farmacocinético do extrato hidroalcoólico de C. langsdorffii e da fração butanólica após administração por via oral, verificou-se que não foi possível detectar nenhum dos isolados no plasma, sugerindo que tais substâncias foram metabolizadas e, provavelmente, tornaram-se ainda mais hidrossolúveis para posterior eliminação por via renal. Frente aos resultados, conclui-se que quercitrina e galoilquínico são substâncias de rápida eliminação e que podem estar relacionadas à atividade antilitiásica descrita para o extrato das folhas de C. langsdorffii. / Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., popularly known as \"copaíba\" is abundantly distributed in the Brazilian cerrado, with several biological activities that have been described in the literature for its oleoresin. However, since few years ago, our research group has been studying the aerial parts of this species, and it was found that the hydroalcoholic extract of its leaves display antilithiatic activity. Aiming to identify the compounds related to this activity, the phytochemical study of the leaves hydroalcoholic extract was undertaken. By using chromatography techniques, it was possible to choose the most promising fractions to isolate compounds. From the ethyl acetate fraction, it was isolated by countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) followed by preparative HPLC purification, the flavonoids quercetin-3-O-?-L-rhamnopyranoside (quercitrin) and kaempferol-3-O-?-L-rhamnopyranoside (afzelin). From the aqueous fraction, it was isolated the galloylquinic acid derivatives 5\'\'-O-methyl-3,4-di-O-galloylquinic and 5\',5\'\'-di-O-methyl-3,4-O-di-galloylquinic by using gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex) followed by preparative HPLC purification. For the pharmacokinetic assays, the hydroalcoholic extract, quercitrin and 5\', 5\'\'-di-O-methyl-3,4-di-O-galloylquinic acid were chosen to be studied. For both compounds, it was validated analytical methods in plasma and saline, to perform pharmacokinetic studies. It was also held the microdialysis probe calibration in vitro by retrodialysis, to determine the conditions to be employed in vivo. In general, quercitrin fitted to a two-compartmental pharmacokinetic model and after intravenous administration of 1 mg/kg, it presented a short half-life (t1/ 2 = 0.40 ± 0.07 h) a fast (? = 11.32 ± 1.90 h-1) and good (Vdss = 2.10 ± 0.52 L/kg) tissue distribution and high clearance (CL = 6.85 ± 0.62 L/h/kg). In the kidney microdialisates analyses, the free renal fraction of quercitrin was 13 times greater than the free plasma concentration. The galloylquinic compound, which is a new isolated one, was studied intravenously in three concentrations (1 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg) and fitted to a two-compartmental model with Michaelis-Menten elimination, presenting the non-linear behavior (ASC0-? 103.85 ± 23.90, 273.7 ± 81.6 and 363.6 ± 142.32 ?g h/mL, respectively). It was not possible to quantify the free concentration of galloylquinic in the kidney by microdialysis, because it bound to the probe. Thus, the study of tissue distribution was performed, in which it was demonstrated that both quercitrin and galloylquinic showed high penetration in the kidneys, with a tissue/plasma ratio of 23.7 and 12.4, respectively. With regard to the pharmacokinetic profile of the hydroalcoholic extract of C. langsdorffii and n-butanol fraction after oral administration, it was found that it was not possible to detect any of the isolated compounds in plasma, suggesting that these compounds were metabolized and probably become even more water soluble for disposal renally. Based on the results, it is concluded that quercitrin and galloylquinic are rapidly eliminated and may be related to antilithiatic activity of the leaves of C. langsdorffii.

Serotonin (5-HT) nimmt eine wichtige Rolle in der Regulation von Nahrungsaufnahme ein. Erhöhte 5-HT-Freisetzung hemmt die Nahrungsaufnahme. Der 5-HT1A-Rezeptor liegt sowohl somatodendritisch als auch postsynaptisch vor. Seine Stimulation mit 8-OH-DPAT vermindert die 5-HT-Freisetzung. Die in-vivo-Mikrodialyse ermöglichte uns eine kontinuierliche Messung von extrazellulärem 5-HT im lateralen Hypothalamus an der frei beweglichen Ratte. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen einen Abfall der 5-HT-Freisetzung bei satten Ratten, nicht jedoch wenn diesen nach Substanzgabe Futter angeboten wurde. Bei hungrigen Ratten war nach Substanzgabe keine signifikante Veränderung in der 5-HT-Freisetzung zu messen. Zusammenfassend wird mit der vorliegenden Studie erstmals die Wirkung von 8-OH-DPAT auf die 5-HT-Freisetzung im LHA in Abhängigkeit von unterschiedlichen Motivationszuständen in Verbindung mit Nahrungsaufnahme gezeigt. / Serotonin (5-HT) is an important mediator of satiety. Increase of 5-HT release inhibits food intake. 8-OH-DPAT, an agonist at the somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptor, reduces serotonergic activity and induces food intake. With the technique of in vivo microdialysis we were able to measure continuously extracellular 5-HT in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in freely moving rats under different feeding conditions. The present results show a decrease of 5-HT release in freely feeding rats after administration of 8-OH-DPAT. This effect was not obtained when offering food after drug application. In contrast, no significant effect in 5-HT release after application of 8-OH-DPAT in food deprived rats was measured. In summery this study demonstrates the effect of 8-OH-DPAT on the 5-HT release in LHA of freely moving rat depending on the different feeding conditions.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a ação melanogênica das furanocumarinas, psoraleno e bergapteno assim como do extrato seco das raízes de Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul, contendo 1,2 % m/m de psoraleno, e 5,2 % m/m de bergapteno. A toxidade celular in vitro foi avaliada pelo teste de incorporação do vermelho neutro em quatro linhagens de células diferentes (fibroblastos-L929, queratinócitos-HaCat, Melanoma-B16F10, e melanócitos-Melam-A) e apresentou resposta dose dependente tanto para os fármacos puros quanto para o extrato de B. gaudichaudii. Quando expostas à radiação ultravioleta do tipo A e B houve aumento da toxicidade, proporcional a dose de radiação. A mutagenicidade e genotoxicidade realizas pelos ensaios de micronúcleo e cometa, mostrou que os compostos são genotóxicos e mutagênicos em doses >= 150 ?g.mL-1.A síntese de melanina in vitro realizada em cultura de melanoma B16F10 foi dependente da dose e do tempo de exposição aos fármacos e UV. Nas concentrações máximas usadas (48 ?g.mL-1 de psoraleno, 104 ?g.mL-1 de bergapteno e 0,5 mg.mL-1 de extrato) o psoraleno aumentou a produção de melanina em 26 %, o bergapteno em 69 %, e o extrato de B.gaudichaudii em 163 %. Quando utilizado mistura equivalente 6 ?g.mL-1 de psoraleno e 26 ?g.mL-1 de bergapteno a presente em 0,5 mg.mL-1 de extrato a produção de melanina foi de 61%. A atividade da tirosinase em culturas de B16F10, tratadas com 20 ?g.mL-1 de psoraleno ou bergapteno, quando comparada ao grupo não tratado aumentou em 13% a atividade enzimatica , quando associados foi de 37%, e 0,5 mg.mL-1 de extrato em 54,1%. Com o ensaio de microdiálise in vivo observou-se que os fármacos são rapidamente absorvidos pela pele e distribuídos no plasma. Ambos os composto apresentaram um cinética linear . O estudo de produção de melanina in vivo confimou que a radiação estimula a produçao de melanina assim como o extrato de B.Gaudichaudii, e quando associados (PUVA) a sintese de melanina foi 143% maior em comparação ao controle negativo. Os resultados destre trabalho mostrou a capacidade de pgmentaçao dos fármacos assim como do B.Gaudichaudii, revelando ainda o sinergismo entre psoraleno e bergapteno. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the melanogenic action of furanocoumarins, namely, psoralen and bergapten, as extract of Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul containing 1.2% m / m (psoralen), 5.2% m / m (bergapten) . The cellular toxicity (in vitro) was evaluated by neutral red incorporation test in four different cell lines (fibroblasts, L929, keratinocytes, HaCaT, melanoma, B16F10, and melanocyte- Melam-A) and showed dose dependent response to both extracted compounds, as well as the whole extract of B. gaudichaudii. The ultraviolet radiation type A and B increased the toxicity associated with the compounds and severity of toxicity was proportional to the radiation dose. The mutagenicity and genotoxicity evaluated by the micronucleus test and comet showed that the compounds are genotoxic and mutagenic compounds at concentrations >= 150 ?g/mL. The in vitro melanin synthesis, performed in melanoma B16F10, was dose, duration and UV dependent. In the maximum concentration used (48 ?g/mL psoralen, 104 ?g/mL bergapten and 0.5 mg.mL-1 extract) psoralen increased melanin synthesis by 26%, bergapten by 69% and the B.gaudichaudii extract by 163%. When administered as an equivalent mixture of 6 ?g/mL psoralen and 26 ?g/mL of bergapten to 0.5 mg/mL of extract, melanin synthesis was increased by 61%. The enzymatic activity of tyrosinase in B16F10 cultures treated with 20 ?g/mL of psoralen or bergapten, when compared to non-treated group, increased by 13%; the increases were 37% and 54.1% in the two-compound mixture and 0.5 mg/mL of whole extract. The in vivo microdialese test in rats showed that the drugs are quickly absorbed through the skin and distributed in plasma. Both compound exhibited linear kinetics. The in vivo evaluation also showed that melanin production was stimulated by UV radiation as well as B.Gaudichaudii extract. When combined with PUVA, melanin synthesis was 143% higher compared to the negative control

Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever a relação entre as concentrações plasmáticas totais e livres tumorais do etoposídeo (ETO) e a inibição do crescimento do tumor observada em ratos Wistar portadores de tumor Walker- 256 (W256) utilizando a modelagem farmacocinética/farmacodinâmica (PK/PD). Métodos: Os procedimentos com animais foram aprovados no CEUA/UFRGS sob o número 22302. Os experimentos de farmacocinética foram realizados para determinar concentrações plasmáticas e livres em duas regiões do tumor sólido W256 através de microdiálise. Após a administração do ETO nas doses de 10 ou 20 mg/kg i.v. bolus em ratos Wistar portadores de tumor W256, amostras de sangue e microdialisado de tecido do centro e periferia do tumor foram coletadas simultaneamente, até 7 h pós-dose, para determinar o fator de penetração no tumor. Um método analítico por CLAE-UV foi desenvolvido e validado para quantificação do etoposídeo nas amostras de plasma e dialisado. Os experimentos de farmacodinâmica foram conduzidos em ratos portadores de tumor W256 que receberam ETO 5 e 10 mg/kg i.v. bolus uma vez ao dia por 8 e 4 dias, respectivamente. O volume dos tumores foram monitorados diariamente durante 30 dias. Análise não-compartimental dos dados de PK foi realizada no WinNonlin®. A modelagem dos dados PK e PK/PD foi realizada no Monolix®, utilizando abordagem populacional. Os dados PK/PD foram analisados usando o modelo Simeoni TGI modificado através da introdução de uma função Emax para descrever a relação nãolinear entre a concentração plasmática e tumoral e o efeito. Resultados e Discussão: O método por CLAE-UV foi desenvolvido e validado para quantificar as amostras de ETO em plasma e tecido. A penetração do ETO no tumor foi maior na periferia (61 ± 15 % e 61 ± 29 %) do que no centro do tumor (34 ± 6 % e 28 ± 11 %) após administração das doses 10 e 20 mg/kg, respectivamente (ANOVA, α = 0.05). Um modelo de 4 compartimentos compreendendo uma distribuição saturável (cinética de Michaelis-Menten) nos compartimentos tumorais a partir do compartimento central modelou simultaneamente os perfis de concentração-tempo do ETO em plasma e em ambas regiões do tumor. O modelo populacional PK/PD Simeoni TGI–Emax foi capaz de descrever o efeito antitumoral dependente do regime de administração do ETO utilizando concentrações totais plasmáticas ou livres no tumor, resultando em um maior k2max (potência máxima) para as concentrações livres (25,8 mL.μg-1.dia-1 - intratumoral vs. 12,6 mL.μg-1.dia-1 - plasma total). Conclusões: Os resultados mostram que a utilização das concentrações livres do fármaco no tumor para a modelagem PK/PD pode fornecer um melhor entendimento da relação farmacocinética e farmacodinâmica e melhoram a capacidade de previsão do modelo, considerando que a eficácia dos fármacos antineoplásicos no tratamento de tumores sólidos é dependente da capacidade do fármaco em se distribuir no tecido tumoral. / Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between total plasma and free interstitial tumor etoposide (ETO) concentrations and the drug tumor growth inhibition observed in a Walker-256 (W256) tumor-bearing Wistar rat model using the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling. Methods: The experiments with animals were approved by CEUA/UFRGS (protocol number 22302). Pharmacokinetic experiments were conducted to determine total plasma and free intratumoral concentrations in two regions of W256 solid tumor by microdialysis. After administration of ETO 10 or 20 mg/kg i.v. bolus to W256 tumorbearing Wistar rats, blood and tissue microdialysate samples from tumor center and periphery were simultaneously collected up to 7h to determine the tumor penetration factor. An analytical HPLC-UV method was developed and validated for quantification of ETO in plasma and microdialysate samples. The pharmacodynamic experiments were conducted in W256 tumor-bearing rats that received ETO 5 or 10 mg/kg i.v. bolus every day for 8 and 4 days, respectively. Tumor volumes were monitored daily for 30 days. Non-compartmental analysis of PK data was performed in WinNonlin®. The PK and PK/PD modeling by population approach were performed using Monolix®. PK/PD data were analyzed using a modification of Simeoni TGI model by introducing an Emax function to describe the nonlinear relationship between tumor and plasma concentrations and effect. Results and Discussion: The HLPCUV method was developed and validated to determine plasma and tissue samples of ETO. ETO tumor penetration was higher in the tumor periphery (61 ± 15 % and 61 ± 29 %) than center (34 ± 6 % and 28 ± 11 %) following 10 and 20 mg/kg doses, respectively (ANOVA, α = 0.05). A 4-compartment structural model comprising a saturable distribution (Michaelis-Menten kinetics) into the tumor compartments from the central compartment simultaneously described the ETO concentration–time profiles in plasma and both tumor regions. The PK/PD population Simeoni TGI–Emax model was capable of describing the schedule-dependent antitumor effects of ETO using total plasma or free tumor concentrations obtained in a W256-tumor bearing Wistar rat model, resulting in higher k2max (maximal potency) for free concentrations (25.8 mL.μg-1.day-1 - intratumoral vs. 12.6 mL.μg-1.day-1 total plasma). Conclusions: The results showed that the use of free intratumoral drug concentrations in the PK/PD modeling can provide a better understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics relationship and improve the forecasting ability of the models considering that the efficacy of antineoplastic drugs in the treatment of solid tumors is dependent on the drug ability to distribute into the tumor.

The enzymatic method for ethanol measurement can detect very low concentration of ethanol at samples, consequently it can’t be applied for samples with high concentration and implies as very sensitive method at limited range of detection.The alcohol dehydrogenase method is based on oxidation of alcohol in the presence of ADH as enzyme and NAD+ as coenzyme and formation of acetaldehyde and NADH that can be monitored by spectrophotometric measurement at 334,340 or 365 nm wavelengths.Ethanol +NAD+ ADH↔ Acetaldehyde +NADH+H+For optimum conditions of measurements all the parameters that affect the enzymatic reaction including temperature, pH, trapping agent for product and proper mixing need to be optimized.In order to calculate the unknown concentration of ethanol in a sample based on this method,it is crucial to find right mathematical model to calculate the unknown concentrations of ethanol in the sample using a mathematical equation that generalizes relationships among the reactants in the reaction including the reaction products. In most enzymatic reactions many parameters are involved meaning that the reaction seldom follows simple linear relation between concentration and signal. Four-parameter logistic model is well suited for modeling sigmoid relationships frequently found in biology.The aim of this project is determination of ethanol at microdialysis samples and the fundamental reason for developing the present measurement method was to study changes in blood flow in living tissues using wash out of the very dissolvable ethanol as a flow marker using the Microdialysis technique.Result from this measurement technique for microdialysis samples shows that ethanol can be detected at range of 0,5-16mmol/L and whole detected concentration for different samples during one microdialysis test follows the inverse relation of blood flow changes in tissue.Also the reported result from Urea test as general method for studying blood flow changes and ethanol test for microdialysis sample has been compared and leads to this conclusion that ethanol techniques is as reliable tool for studying blood flow changes. / Uppsatsnivå: D

Objetivo: Avaliar a influência da infecção por Pseudomonas aeruginosa formadora de biofilme na penetração pulmonar da tobramicina através da modelagem populacional dos dados de plasma e microdialisado em animais sadios e infectados. Metodologia: A pneumonia foi desenvolvida através de inoculação de P. aeruginosa (cepa PA14) pela via intratraqueal (109 UFC/mL) a ratos Wistar. Sete dias após a inoculação os animais infectados (n = 5) receberam tobramicina 10 mg/kg i.v. bolus. Animais saudáveis (n = 6) foram utilizados como controle. As concentrações livres pulmonares foram coletadas por microdiálise (sonda CMA/20). As sondas de microdiálise foram calibradas in vitro através de diálise e retrodiálise e in vivo utilizando retrodiálise. A ligação da tobramicina às proteínas plasmáticas foi determinada por microdiálise. As concentrações do fármaco nas amostras foram determinadas por cromatografia líquida em tandem com espectrometria de massas (CLAE-EM/EM) utilizando metodologia validada. Os parâmetros farmacocinéticos foram determinados por abordagem não-compartimental (Phoenix®) e modelagem populacional (popPK) (Monolix®). Resultados e Discussão: A recuperação relativa (RR) das sondas foi independente da concentração de tobramicina e inversamente proporcional ao fluxo de perfusão. A RR determinada in vivo foi de 27,64 % ± 7,70 para animais sadios e 24,47 % ± 1,66 para animais infectados. A ligação às proteínas plasmáticas foi de 11,3 ± 1,9%. A infecção com formação de biofilme não alterou a farmacocinética plasmática da tobramicina, entretanto reduziu em cerca de 70% a penetração pulmonar do fármaco. As concentrações plasmáticas e teciduais foram simultaneamente descritas por um modelo farmacocinético populacional de dois compartimentos, tanto em animais sadios como infectados. A infecção, utilizada como covariável categórica, permitiu descrever as alterações no volume do compartimento periférico e na constante de eliminação do compartimento central devido à infecção. Conclusões: As concentrações plasmáticas da tobramicina, utilizadas para ajuste posológico, superestimam as concentrações ativas no pulmão infectado. O modelo popPK descrito permite a previsão das concentrações livres pulmonares da tobramicina em pulmão infectado, podendo auxiliar na otimização da terapia de pneumonias com P. aeruginosa formadora de biofilme. / Objective: To evaluate the influence of biofilm-forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection on tobramycin lung penetration by population pharmacokinetic modeling of plasma and microdialysate data in healthy and infected rats. Methodology: The infection was developed by intratracheal inoculation (109 CFU/mL) of P. aeruginosa (PA14 strain) to Wistar rats. In order to determine plasma and tissue concentrations, seven days after the inoculation the infected animals (n = 5) received tobramycin 10 mg/kg i.v. bolus dose via femoral vein. A healthy group (n = 6) was used as control. Free lung concentrations were determined in microdialysate samples obtained using CMA/20 probes. Microdialysis probes were calibrated in vitro by dialysis and retrodialysis and in vivo by retrodialysis. Tobramycin plasma protein binding was determined by microdialysis. Plasma and tissue concentrations were quantified by a developed and validated liquid chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Compartmental and non-compartmental analyses were carried out by Monolix™ and Phoenix™ software, respectively. Results and Discussion: Microdialysis probes relative recovery was independent of the tobramycin concentration and is inversely proportional to the perfusion flow rate investigated. The in vivo probe recovery was 27.64 % ± 7.70 (healthy rats) and 24.47 % ± 1.66 (infected rats). The plasma protein binding was 11.3 ± 1.9%. The biofilm-forming lung infection did not alter tobramycin plasma pharmacokinetics, however, reduced lung penetration in about 70%. The plasma and tissue concentrations-time profiles were simultaneously described by a two compartment popPK model in healthy and infected animals. The infection process, used as categorical covariate allowed describing the changes observed in the volume of the peripheral compartment and in constant rate of elimination from the central compartment. Conclusions: Tobramycin plasma concentrations, used for dosing adjustments, overestimate active concentrations in infected lung. The described popPK model allows predicting free tobramycin lung concentrations in infected lung and could be useful to optimize the treatment of pneumonia caused by biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa with this drug.

Our laboratory has reported neonatal quinpirole (D2/D3 agonist) treatment to rats increases dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity that persists throughout the animal's lifetime. This model appears to have clinical relevance to schizophrenia, and smoking is common in this population. Male and female Sprague-dawley rats were neonatally treated with quinpirole from postnatal (P) days 1–21. After habituation from P30 to 32, animals were administered saline or nicotine (0.3, 0.5, or 0.7mg/kg free base) every other day from P33 to 49 and locomotor activity was assessed. Generally, animals neonatally treated with quinpirole and administered nicotine during adolescence demonstrated increased behavioral activity and/or sensitization compared to animals neonatally given saline and sensitized to nicotine as well as controls. However, animals neonatally treated with quinpirole and given the 0.7mg/kg dose of nicotine demonstrated elevated activity throughout testing but did not show sensitization, and only mild sex differences were reported. Therefore, microdialysis was performed on male rats sensitized to the 0.5mg/kg dose of nicotine, and results revealed that neonatal quinpirole sensitized dopamine overflow in response to nicotine to 500% above animals neonatally given saline and sensitized to nicotine at peak levels. In addition, neonatal quinpirole increased the accumbal BDNF in response to nicotine compared to all other groups, and nicotine alone also produced significant increases in striatal and accumbal BDNF. This study reveals that neonatal quinpirole enhanced adolescent nicotine sensitization, accumbal dopamine overflow, and BDNF protein in response to nicotine, which may be related to changes in the brain's reward system.

Sarizotan 1-[(2R)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl]-N-[[5-(4-fluorophenyl) pyridin-3-yl]methyl] methenamine, showed an in vivo pharmaco-EEG profile resembling that of methylphenidate which is used in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In turn, we tested sarizotan against impulsivity in juvenile rats measuring the choice for large delayed vs. a small immediate reward in a T-maze and obtained encouraging results starting at 0.03 mg/kg (plasma levels of ~11 nM). Results from rats treated neonatally with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), also supported anti-ADHD activity although starting at 0.3 mg/kg. However, microdialysis studies revealed that free brain concentration of sarizotan at active doses were below its affinity for 5-HT1A receptors, the assumed primary target. In contrast, electrophysiological experiments in mid-brain Raphé serotonergic cells paralleled by plasma sampling showed that there was ~60 % inhibition of firing rate—indicating significant activation of 5-HT1A receptors—at a plasma concentration of 76 nM. In line with this, we observed that sarizotan concentrations in brain homogenates were similar to total blood levels but over 500 fold higher than free extracellular fluid (ECF) concentrations as measured using brain microdialysis. These data suggest that sarizotan may have potential anti-ADHD effects at low doses free of the previously reported side-effects. Moreover, in this case a classical pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic relationship based on free brain concentrations seems to be less appropriate than target engagement pharmacodynamic readouts.

Psychostimulant-induced reinstatement of place preferences have been used to investigate underlying physiological mechanisms mediating drug-seeking behavior in adolescent and adult rodents; however, it is still unclear how psychostimulant exposure during adolescence affects neuronal communication in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway and whether these changes would elicit enhanced drug-seeking behavior later in adulthood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of intra-ventral tegmental area (VTA) or intra-nucleus accumbens septi (NAcc) DA D2 receptor antagonist infusions on cocaine-induced reinstatement of cocaine place conditioning in high and low responders for cocaine reward. Adolescent rats were exposed to cocaine place conditioning [postnatal day (PND 28-39)] and divided into high and low responders for cocaine reward based on their place preference expression score. Place preferences were extinguished and guide cannula were implanted into either the VTA or NAcc followed by one of the following: 1) intra-VTA or intra-NAcc infusion of the DA D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride (100 µM) during a cocaine-primed reinstatement test (10 mg/kg/ip cocaine) or 2) measurement of NAcc DA levels during intra-VTA or intra-NAcc infusion of sulpiride (100 µM), a cocaine prime (10 mg/kg cocaine) and re-exposure to the cocaine paired chamber. Infusion of sulpiride into the VTA but not the NAcc blocked reinstatement of cocaine place conditioning in rats exposed to cocaine during adolescence. Furthermore, re-exposure to cocaine-associated cues and simultaneous local infusion of sulpiride into either the VTA or NAcc attenuated cocaine-induced increases in accumbal DA levels for rats pretreated with cocaine during adolescence, regardless of phenotype. These data suggest intrinsic compensatory mechanisms in the mesolimbic DA pathway mediate adolescent behavioral responsivity to cocaine prime-induced reinstatement of cocaine place conditioning later on in adulthood.

<p>Stroke is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), the least common form of stroke, is one of the most demanding diseases treated in neurointensive care units. Cerebral ischemia may develop rapidly, and has a major influence on outcome.To be able to save parts of the brain that are at risk for ischemic brain damage, there is a need for reliable monitoring techniques. Understanding the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia is a prerequisite both for the correct treatment of these diseases and for the development of new monitoring techniques and treatment modalities. The main aim of this thesis was to gain insight into the mechanisms of cerebral ischemia by studying early hemodynamic and metabolic changes with positron emission tomography and neurochemical changes with microdialysis. A secondary aim was to evaluate the potential of these techniques for detecting ischemia and predicting the degree of reversibility of ischemic changes.</p><p>Early changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism (CMRO₂) were studied with repeated positron emission tomography in an experimental model (MCAO) of transient focal ischemia, and in SAH patients. CMRO₂ was superior to CBF in discriminating between tissue with irreversible damage and tissue with the potential for survival in the experimental model. A metabolic threshold of ischemia was found. Neurochemical changes in the ischemic regions were studied simultaneously with microdialysis. Extracellular concentrations of glucose, lactate, hypoxanthine, glutamate and glycerol were measured, and the lactate/pyruvate (LP) and lactate/glucose ratios were calculated. Changes in all the microdialysis parameters were related to the degree of ischemia (severe ischemia or penumbra). Especially the LP ratio and glycerol were found to be robust and specific markers of ischemia. In the patients, hemodynamic and metabolic changes were common, but diverse in the acute phase of SAH, and it was suggested that these changes may contribute to an increased vulnerability for secondary events and the development of secondary ischemic brain damage.</p>