Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Nov 2004
The protective effect of nebivolol on ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbit spinal cord.
The aim of this experimental study was to investigate whether nebivolol has protective effects against neuronal damage induced by spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Twenty-one rabbits were divided into three groups: group I (control, no I/R), group II (only I/R) and group III (I/R+nebivolol). Spinal cord ischemia was induced by clamping the aorta both below the left renal artery and above the aortic bifurcation. ⋯ A significant decrease in spinal cord glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) level was seen in I/R group and nebivolol treatment prevented the decrement in the spinal cord tissue GSH-Px contents. On the other hand, I/R produced a significant increase in the spinal cord tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) contents, this was prevented by nebivolol treatment. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a considerable neuroprotective effect of nebivolol on neurological, biochemical and histopathological status during periods of spinal cord I/R in rabbits.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · Jul 2004
Isobolographic analysis of interaction between cyclooxygenase inhibitors and tramadol in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids are the most commonly used analgesics in the management of acute and chronic pain. Combined use of NSAIDs and opioids has been indicated for achieving better analgesia with reduced side effects. The present study was aimed at evaluating the combination of different NSAIDs, which inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and tramadol against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. ⋯ However, similar interaction was not observed when tramadol was combined with rofecoxib. Pretreatment with naloxone partially reversed the antinociceptive effect of tramadol per se and its combination with naproxen without modifying the per se effect of NSAID. The results demonstrated marked synergistic interaction between naproxen and tramadol and such interaction involved opioid as well as non-opioid mechanisms of tramadol and inhibition of COX-1 but not COX-2 by naproxen.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · May 2004
Comparative StudyComparison of risperidone and olanzapine as used under "real-world" conditions in a state psychiatric hospital.
As a follow-up to our previous study of clozapine, medical records of a state psychiatric hospital were reviewed for patients who were prescribed an atypical antipsychotic. From that sample, demographic and clinical data were obtained for individuals with an initial score of 35 or greater on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and at least two additional successive monthly BPRS ratings. A total of 100 patients met the criteria. ⋯ These results indicate a modest therapeutic advantage of olanzapine compared to risperidone, and a substantial degree of polypharmacy in the use of atypical antipsychotics. This uncontrolled "real-world" evaluation supports data from controlled clinical trials, showing that either risperidone or olanzapine would be a reasonable first choice in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, with the decision based on the least adverse side effect profile and economic constraints. When compared to our previous clozapine study, we confirm a slight advantage for the effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of this refractory population.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · May 2004
Intracisternal NMDA produces analgesia in the orofacial formalin test of freely moving rats.
The present study was performed to investigate the antinociceptive response to the intracisternal administration of NMDA in the orofacial area. To achieve this purpose, the effects of NMDA injected intracisternally on the orofacial formalin test were monitored in freely moving rats. We also investigated underlying the mechanisms of NMDA-induced antinociceptive response. ⋯ Pretreatment with L-NAME, NO synthesis inhibitor, however, did not affect the antinociceptive response produced by NMDA injected intracisternally. These results suggest that NMDA injected intracisternally produces brief pain behavioral responses and also produces delayed antinociceptive effects in the orofacial formalin test. The opioid pathway seems to be involved in the NMDA-induced antinociception in the orofacial area.
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Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry · May 2004
Effect of inescapable tones on behavioral despair in Wistar rats.
The present experiment investigated the potentially differential effects of presenting inescapable tones with progressively increasing or decreasing durations on performance in behavioral despair, an animal model of depression based on two forced swim tests. Groups of female Wistar rats (n=8 each) were exposed to 60 inescapable tones (2000 Hz, 120 dB) either in a series of increasing or decreasing durations. Duration of tone exposure was incrementally increased (from 1 to 10 s) or decreased (from 10 to 1 s) by 1 s every six trials. ⋯ Animals were exposed to a 15 min forced swim test a day after tone (or control) treatment, followed by a 5 min swim test 24 h later. Analyses were done on diving, jumping, head shakes, duration and time of onset of immobility for the two swim tests. Compared to controls, animals that received tone exposure displayed greater immobility in the second swim test, indicating aggravation of behavioral despair due to inescapable tones.