title: Pharmacological characterization of the ameliorating effect on learning and memory impairment and antinociceptive effect of KT-95 in mice.
abstract: 3-Acetoxy-6beta-acetylthio-10-oxo-N-cyclopropylmethyl-dihydronormorphine (KT-95) is a synthesized compound that binds to mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptors in vitro. KT-95 induces analgesia and this effect is antagonized by nor-BNI, a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist. We have reported that kappa-opioid receptor agonists improve impairment of learning and memory in mice and/or rats. In this study, the effects of KT-95 were investigated in an acetic acid-induced writhing test and scopolamine-induced memory impairment test using spontaneous alternation performance in a Y-maze and a step-down type passive avoidance test. Male ddY mice were treated with KT-95 (0.24-2.35 micromol/kg, s.c.) 30 min before the behavioral test. In the writhing test, the antinociceptive effect of KT-95 (2.35 micromol/kg) was completely antagonized by nor-BNI (4.9 nmol/mouse, i.c.v.), but not by naloxone (3.05 micromol/kg, s.c.). KT-95 significantly improved the impairment of spontaneous alternation induced by scopolamine (1.65 micromol/kg, s.c.). The ameliorating effect of KT-95 was not antagonized by nor-BNI, but was almost completely antagonized by a selective sigma-receptor antagonist, N,N-dipropyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylenoxy)-phenyl]-ethylamine monohydrochloride (NE-100, 2.6 micromol/kg, i.p.). KT-95 also significantly improved scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment in the passive avoidance test, although the effect was partial. Administration of KT-95 itself induced impairment of learning and memory. KT-95-induced impairment was not antagonized by naloxone, naltrindole, nor-BNI or NE-100 indicating that this impairment was not because of opioid receptor stimulation. These results suggested that although the KT-95-induced antinociceptive effect was mediated by kappa-opioid receptors, the KT-95-induced improvement in scopolamine-induced impairment of memory was mediated mainly via sigma-receptors and partially by kappa-opioid receptors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Graduate School of Environmental and Human Sciences, Meijo University, 150 Yagotoyama, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya 468-8503, Japan. mhiramt@ccmfs.meijo-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanematsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology; D017480:Receptors, sigma / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C104277:KT 95; D009022:Morphine Derivatives; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017480:Receptors, sigma; D012601:Scopolamine