A potent serotonin-modulating compound AP-267 attenuates morphine withdrawal-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction in rats.
The possibility that a serotonin 5-HT2c receptor-modulating compound, AP-267, will influence spontaneous morphine withdrawal symptoms and the alterations in the brain fluid microenvironment was examined in a rat model. Daily administration of morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days resulted in dependence of rats as seen by loss of analgesic response. On the 11th day, no morphine administration was given. This resulted in profound withdrawal symptoms 24 h after morphine withdrawal. The magnitude and severity of these symptoms were increased further 48 h after withdrawal. Measurement of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, a measure of perturbed brain fluid microenvironment showed leakage of Evans blue and radioiodine tracers in several parts of the brain in rats showing withdrawal symptoms. Whereas, rats treated with AP-267 either on the 1st day or 2nd day morphine withdrawal showed much less symptoms and leakage of the BBB. Taken together, these observations suggest that (a) stress associated with the withdrawal symptoms are sufficient enough to induce breakdown of the BBB function, and (b) modulation of serotonin 5-HT2c receptors may have some protective influence on the stress symptoms and the BBB disruption.
Sharma
Hari S
HS
Dr Med Sci, Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Surgical Sciences, Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala University, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Sharma@surgsci.uu.se
Lundstedt
Torbjörn
T
Boman
Arne
A
Lek
Per
P
Seifert
Elisabeth
E
Wiklund
Lars
L
Ali
Syed F
SF
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000633:toxicity*; D010539:Permeability; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D009020:Morphine