A vareniclina é uma substância química sintética utilizada para o tratamento de tabagismo; atua como agonista de receptores colinérgicos nicotínicos, em especial, como agonista parcial em receptores α4β2 e α3β4, e como agonista total do receptor α7. Levando em consideração que há uma tendência de ampliação do uso clínico da vareniclina para o tratamento da dependência à diversas substâncias de padrão abusivo e que há poucos estudos relacionados aos seus efeitos sobre o comportamento, cognição e sistema motor, tornam-se necessários mais estudos sobre essa substância. Assim, no presente trabalho foram estudados os efeitos da exposição prolongada (28 30 dias) de ratos à vareniclina, avaliando-se o consumo de água e de ração, o ganho de peso e o comportamento animal, por meio dos testes de campo aberto, labirinto em cruz elevado, interação social, comportamento estereotipado, labirinto de Barnes e esquiva passiva. Ainda foram feitas as avaliações dos níveis de neurotransmissores e seus metabólitos em diferentes estruturas cerebrais, bem como avaliações hematológicas, bioquímicas séricas, urinárias e estudos anatomopatológicos e histopatológicos. Foram utilizadas três doses de vareniclina: 0,03 (dose terapêutica para o ser humano), 0,1 e 0,3 mg/kg, por via oral (gavagem). Os resultados mostraram que a exposição prolongada de ratos à diferentes doses de vareniclina não provocou toxicidade, uma vez que não houve alteração no consumo médio de água e de ração e no ganho de peso avaliados semanalmente. Quanto às avaliações comportamentais, observou-se leve aumento da atividade geral no campo aberto, bem como diminuição do tempo de interação social, não sendo capaz de alterar parâmetros neuroquímicos, hematológicos, bioquímicos séricos, urinários, anatomopatológicos e histopatológicos de ratos expostos à vareniclina. / Varenicline is a synthetic chemical used for the smoking addiction treatment; it acts as an agonist of nicotinic cholinergic receptors, in particular, as a partial agonist of receptors α4β2 and α3β4 and as a full agonist of the α7 receptor. More studies about this substance are necessary, given that its clinical use is increasingly being applied to the treatment of addiction to a variety of abusive drugs. Moreover, there are few studies on vareniciline effects on behavior, cognition and the motor system. Thus, in this study the effects of prolonged (28-30 days) exposure of rats to varenicline were evaluated. It was analyzed the water and food consumption, the weight gain and the animal behavior, through open field, elevated plus maze, social interaction, stereotyped behavior, Barnes maze and passive avoidance tests. The neurotransmitter levels and their metabolites in different brain structures were measured and hematological, serum biochemistry, urinary evaluations and pathological and histological studies were carried out. We used three doses of varenicline: 0.03 (therapeutic dose for humans), 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg orally (gavage). The results showed that prolonged exposure of rats to different doses of varenicline did not cause toxicity, since there were no changes in average weekly consumption of water or food nor body weight gain, which were measured weekly. As for behavioral assessments, there was a slight increase in overall activity in the open field as well as decreased time of social interaction. Varenicline was not able to change neurochemical, hematological, serum biochemical, urinary, pathology and histopathology parameters of rats.

A vareniclina é uma substância química sintética utilizada para o tratamento de tabagismo; atua como agonista de receptores colinérgicos nicotínicos, em especial, como agonista parcial em receptores α4β2 e α3β4, e como agonista total do receptor α7. Levando em consideração que há uma tendência de ampliação do uso clínico da vareniclina para o tratamento da dependência à diversas substâncias de padrão abusivo e que há poucos estudos relacionados aos seus efeitos sobre o comportamento, cognição e sistema motor, tornam-se necessários mais estudos sobre essa substância. Assim, no presente trabalho foram estudados os efeitos da exposição prolongada (28 30 dias) de ratos à vareniclina, avaliando-se o consumo de água e de ração, o ganho de peso e o comportamento animal, por meio dos testes de campo aberto, labirinto em cruz elevado, interação social, comportamento estereotipado, labirinto de Barnes e esquiva passiva. Ainda foram feitas as avaliações dos níveis de neurotransmissores e seus metabólitos em diferentes estruturas cerebrais, bem como avaliações hematológicas, bioquímicas séricas, urinárias e estudos anatomopatológicos e histopatológicos. Foram utilizadas três doses de vareniclina: 0,03 (dose terapêutica para o ser humano), 0,1 e 0,3 mg/kg, por via oral (gavagem). Os resultados mostraram que a exposição prolongada de ratos à diferentes doses de vareniclina não provocou toxicidade, uma vez que não houve alteração no consumo médio de água e de ração e no ganho de peso avaliados semanalmente. Quanto às avaliações comportamentais, observou-se leve aumento da atividade geral no campo aberto, bem como diminuição do tempo de interação social, não sendo capaz de alterar parâmetros neuroquímicos, hematológicos, bioquímicos séricos, urinários, anatomopatológicos e histopatológicos de ratos expostos à vareniclina. / Varenicline is a synthetic chemical used for the smoking addiction treatment; it acts as an agonist of nicotinic cholinergic receptors, in particular, as a partial agonist of receptors α4β2 and α3β4 and as a full agonist of the α7 receptor. More studies about this substance are necessary, given that its clinical use is increasingly being applied to the treatment of addiction to a variety of abusive drugs. Moreover, there are few studies on vareniciline effects on behavior, cognition and the motor system. Thus, in this study the effects of prolonged (28-30 days) exposure of rats to varenicline were evaluated. It was analyzed the water and food consumption, the weight gain and the animal behavior, through open field, elevated plus maze, social interaction, stereotyped behavior, Barnes maze and passive avoidance tests. The neurotransmitter levels and their metabolites in different brain structures were measured and hematological, serum biochemistry, urinary evaluations and pathological and histological studies were carried out. We used three doses of varenicline: 0.03 (therapeutic dose for humans), 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg orally (gavage). The results showed that prolonged exposure of rats to different doses of varenicline did not cause toxicity, since there were no changes in average weekly consumption of water or food nor body weight gain, which were measured weekly. As for behavioral assessments, there was a slight increase in overall activity in the open field as well as decreased time of social interaction. Varenicline was not able to change neurochemical, hematological, serum biochemical, urinary, pathology and histopathology parameters of rats.

Abstract not available

<p>This thesis examined neurotoxic effects of nicotine exposure during a defined critical period of neonatal brain development in mice.</p><p>In our environment there are numerous hazardous contaminants that an individual can be exposed to during its entire lifetime. In many mammalian species the neonatal period is characterised by a rapid development of the brain. The present studies have identified a defined critical period during the neonatal brain development in mice, where exposure to low doses of nicotine causes permanent disturbances in the cholinergic nicotinic receptors and altered behaviour response to nicotine at adult age. This adult reaction to nicotine, a hypoactive response, was the opposite of that observed in control animals and animals exposed to nicotine before or after this period. Animals showing a hypoactive response to nicotine lacked nicotinic low affinity binding sites in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, neonatal exposure to nicotine affected learning and memory in adult animals, an effect that was time-dependent. This thesis also showed that neonatal exposure to nicotine increased adult susceptibility to a repeated exposure of nicotine, manifested as an even more pronounced effect in spontaneous behaviour after challenging doses of nicotine. In these animals the nicotinic receptors in the cerebral cortex, assayed by a-bungarotoxin, was decreased. </p><p>Neonatal exposure to nicotine was also shown to increase adult susceptibility to the organophosphate paraoxon, a known cholinergic agent, and to the brominated flame retardant 2,2´,4,4´,5-pentabromodiphenyl ether, a novel environmental agent, at adult age. This was seen at doses that did not affect behaviour in control animals, and was manifested as deranged spontaneous behaviour and reduced habituation, aberrations that also worsened with age. </p><p>The results indicate that differences in adult susceptibility to environmental pollutants are not necessarily an inherited condition. Rather they may well be acquired by low dose exposure to toxic agents during early life.</p>

This thesis examined neurotoxic effects of nicotine exposure during a defined critical period of neonatal brain development in mice. In our environment there are numerous hazardous contaminants that an individual can be exposed to during its entire lifetime. In many mammalian species the neonatal period is characterised by a rapid development of the brain. The present studies have identified a defined critical period during the neonatal brain development in mice, where exposure to low doses of nicotine causes permanent disturbances in the cholinergic nicotinic receptors and altered behaviour response to nicotine at adult age. This adult reaction to nicotine, a hypoactive response, was the opposite of that observed in control animals and animals exposed to nicotine before or after this period. Animals showing a hypoactive response to nicotine lacked nicotinic low affinity binding sites in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, neonatal exposure to nicotine affected learning and memory in adult animals, an effect that was time-dependent. This thesis also showed that neonatal exposure to nicotine increased adult susceptibility to a repeated exposure of nicotine, manifested as an even more pronounced effect in spontaneous behaviour after challenging doses of nicotine. In these animals the nicotinic receptors in the cerebral cortex, assayed by a-bungarotoxin, was decreased. Neonatal exposure to nicotine was also shown to increase adult susceptibility to the organophosphate paraoxon, a known cholinergic agent, and to the brominated flame retardant 2,2´,4,4´,5-pentabromodiphenyl ether, a novel environmental agent, at adult age. This was seen at doses that did not affect behaviour in control animals, and was manifested as deranged spontaneous behaviour and reduced habituation, aberrations that also worsened with age. The results indicate that differences in adult susceptibility to environmental pollutants are not necessarily an inherited condition. Rather they may well be acquired by low dose exposure to toxic agents during early life.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Biology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-118). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ66399.

En treballs anteriors del nostre grup de recerca es va demostrar que l’antagonista específic del receptor nicotínic α7, metillicaconitina (MLA), inhibia in vitro la producció d’espècies reactives d’oxigen (EROS) i protegia de la neurotoxicitat in vivo induïda per metamfetamina (METH) i per la 3,4-metilendioxi-N-metamfetamina (MDMA). En aquesta tesi, es descriu un nou mecanisme d’acció dels derivats amfetamínics. Mitjançant assajos de fixació de radiolligands, es va comprovar que ambdós derivats amfetamínics competien amb els radiolligands específics dels receptors nicotínics α7 ([3H]Metillicaconitina), i dels heteromèrics ([3H]Epibatidina), el que indicava que en les cèl•lules PC12, el nostre model experimental, i també en una preparació de cervell total de ratolí, aquestes substàncies interaccionaven directament amb els receptors nicotínics. L’MDMA mostrava més afinitat per ambdós subtipus de receptors. Està descrit que el tractament crònic amb nicotina provoca un augment en la densitat de receptors nicotínics tan in vivo com in vitro en cèl•lules PC12. Ambdós derivats amfetamínics van provocar una regulació a l’alça dels dos subtipus de receptors ja a les 6 hores de pretractament. A la vegada, in vivo, l’MDMA i la Nicotina van provocar la regulació a l’alça que va ser potenciada per la seva associació en determinades zones cerebrals on s’expressen cada subtipus de nAChR. De l’estudi dels mecanismes implicats en aquesta regulació a l’alça, mitjançant inhibidors a diferents nivells, es va concluir que, igual com passa amb la nicotina, es produeixen a nivell postraduccional. A nivell funcional, vam determinar que aquests derivats amfetamínics eren capaços d’activar els receptors nicotínics i, d’acord amb les hipòtesis de treballs anteriors, induir una entrada de calci i de sodi que podria estar implicada en els esdeveniments que comportarien la seva neurotoxicitat. Per una banda, l’MDMA i la METH es van comportar com agonistes parcials dels nAChR α7 induïnt un increment de Ca2+ citosòlic. Per altra banda, l’MDMA es va comportar com antagonista dels nAChR heteromèrics i la METH com agonista parcial induint l’entrada de Na+ de la mateixa manera, el qual explicaria diferències a nivell de dependència, ja que els nAChR α4β2 estan implicats en la via mesolímbica o de recompensa. Paral•lelament a l’increment de fixació de radiolligands, es va determinar que la preincubació amb MDMA indueix un increment en la resposta per activació de receptors nicotínics, demostrant que l’ MDMA també indueix regulació a l’alça funcional. Alhora, es va observar que la preincubació de les cèl•lules durant 24 hores amb MDMA dona lloc a un increment perllongat dels nivells basals de Ca2+, el qual indica que l’MDMA inhibeix la desensibilització dels receptors i fa que entri calci durant un temps més llarg. Aquesta entrada persistent podria estar implicada en fenòmens de neurotoxicitat ja que va seguida de l’activació de vies dependents de calci com la calpaïna i la caspasa-3. / During the last years, our emphasis has focused in the study of the neurotoxic effects of MDMA and methamphetamine (METH) on central nervous system and their pharmacological prevention. It has been demonstrated that these amphetamine derivatives produce oxygen species (ROS) in an in vitro model of synaptosomes. In previous works, we demonstrated that blockade of alpha7 nicotinic receptors with methyllycaconitine (MLA) prevented ROS production induced by MDMA and METH, consequently the alpha7 receptor would be involved in the neurotoxicity induced by these drugs. Studies at molecular level, using radioligand binding assays, showed the interaction of METH and MDMA with homomeric alpha7 nAChR and heteromeric subtypes of nicotinic receptors, such as aplha4 beta2. In addition, we investigated the effects of pretreatment with METH and MDMA on nAChR densities. We used PC 12 cells as an experimental model due to the fact other authors have similarly utilised them to evaluate the neurotoxicity of amphetamines. Moreover, they not only express nAChR, including the alpha7 subtype, but also provide an in vitro model for the up-regulation of nAChR, which occurs in vivo following chronic exposure to nicotine. In recent works, we demonstrated in vitro that Ca2+ chelation with EGTA prevented the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to a similar extent as nAChR blockade. This indicates that calcium influx, probably through alpha7 nAChR, is a key step in this process. Consequently, one of the objectives of this work was to use a fluorimetric method to investigate the effect of MDMA on Ca2+ and Na+ levels in cultured PC12 cells and the involvement of different nAChR subtypes and other cell pathways related to Ca2+ mobilization. In addition, we used electrophysiology in transfected Xenopus oocytes to corroborate the effects on alpha7 and alpha4 beta2 nAChR. Moreover, pretreatment with MDMA induced functional upregulation by potentiating the effects of specific nAChR agonists or whether it provoked a persistent Ca2+ increase, leading to calpain, caspase 3, NFκB, GSK-3 and Cyt C activation, which was involved in toxicity.

Le cortex préfrontal (cpf) est à la base des processus cognitifs supérieurs qui sont modulés majoritairement par des entrées cholinergiques via les récepteurs nicotiniques de l'acétylcholine (nachrs). cette région du cerveau présente " par défaut " une activité spontanée, qui est modifiée dans le cas de troubles psychiatriques, tels que la schizophrénie, et de maladies neurodégénératives comme la maladie d'alzheimer. des études de génétique humaine ont mis en évidence la nature polymorphique de gènes spécifiques codant pour les nachr qui augmentent les risques de tabagisme et de schizophrénie. de nombreux laboratoires, dont le notre, ont montré que les souris ayant une altération de la fonction du gène nachr présentent des déficits comportementaux cpf-dépendants. cependant, la manière dont les polymorphismes humains correspondants altèrent les mécanismes cellulaires et circuits sous-jacents aux comportements reste inconnue. de ce fait, nous avons donc développé et étudié des modèles de souris liés à la schizophrénie, à la dépendance à la nicotine et à la maladie d'alzheimer. l'utilisation in vivo de l'imagerie bi-photon au niveau du cpf de souris éveillées et de souris anesthésiées a montré que différentes sous-unités nachr sont impliquées dans le contrôle de l'activité spontanée du cortex préfrontal, via un circuit d'inhibition hiérarchique. de plus, l'effet de l'administration chronique de nicotine sur l'activité cérébrale a été étudié, en fournissant des concentrations analogues à celles observées chez des fumeurs. ce travail met en lumière le rôle de la neurotransmission cholinergique dans l'orchestration des fonctions cognitives. / The prefrontal cortex (pfc) underlies higher cognitive processes that are modulated by cholinergic inputs largely via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nachrs). this brain region exhibits spontaneous “default” activity, which is altered in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (scz), and neurodegenerative diseases such as alzheimer’s disease (ad). both of these disorders have a strong impact and burden on society. human genetic studies have highlighted the polymorphic nature of specific nachrs genes that increase risk for smoking and scz. several laboratories, including our own, have shown that mice with altered nachr gene function exhibit pfc-dependent behavioral deficits, but how the corresponding human polymorphisms alter the cellular and circuit mechanisms underlying the behaviors is unknown. here, mouse models related to scz, nicotine dependence and ad were developed and studied. using in vivo two-photon imaging in the pfc of both awake and anesthetized mice, different nachr subunits were shown to control spontaneous pfc activity through a hierarchical inhibitory circuit. furthermore, the effect of chronic nicotine administration on brain activity, by delivering concentrations analogous to that observed in smokers, was studied. the impact of nicotine on pfc layer ii/iii microcircuits altered in pathology can be extended to therapeutic strategies with strong candidates being positive allosteric modulators (pams) for defined nachr subunits. we hope that this work sheds light on the role of cholinergic neurotransmission in the orchestration of cognitive functions and will inspire further research in this direction.

Yes / Cholinergic dysfunction has been shown to be central to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease and has also been postulated to contribute to cognitive dysfunction observed in various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Deficits are found across a number of cognitive domains and in spite of several attempts to develop new therapies, these remain an unmet clinical need. In the current study we investigated the efficacy of donepezil, risperidone and selective nicotinic α7 and α4β2 receptor agonists to reverse a delay-induced deficit in recognition memory. Adult female Hooded Lister rats received drug treatments and were tested in the novel object recognition (NOR) task following a 6 h inter-trial interval (ITI). In all treatment groups, there was no preference for the left or right identical objects in the acquisition trial. Risperidone failed to enhance recognition memory in this paradigm whereas donepezil was effective such that rats discriminated between the novel and familiar object in the retention trial following a 6 h ITI. Although a narrow dose range of PNU-282987 and RJR- 2403 was tested, only one dose of each increased recognition memory, the highest dose of PNU-282987 (10 mg/kg) and the lowest dose of RJR-2403 (0.1 mg/kg), indicative of enhanced cognitive performance. Interestingly, these compounds were also efficacious when administered either before the acquisition or the retention trial of the task, suggesting an important role for nicotinic receptor subtypes in the formation and retrieval of recognition memory. / This work was conducted at the University of Bradford and was funded by b-neuro. However all our recent studies mentioned in the discussion section have been conducted at the University of Manchester (UoM), and funded by b-neuro, Autifony, Innovate UK (formerly TSB) and UoM

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