Aminophylline (a theophylline-ethylenediamine complex) blocks ethanol behavioral effects in mice.
Aminophylline is a complex of theophylline-ethylenediamine, where theophylline is the main component. Theophylline is a methyxanthine and besides inhibiting phosphodiesterase enzymes, it is also a nonselective adenosine antagonist. Several reports suggested the involvement of the brain adenosinergic system in the ethanol-induced motor incoordination. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the effects of the interaction of ethanol with aminophylline as assessed by behavioral tests in mice. Eight groups of male Swiss mice were used. The animals were treated with either distilled water (control) or ethanol (E; 2, 4, and 6 g/kg, orally) for 5 days, or with distilled water for 4 days, and on the fifth day with aminophylline (A; 5 and 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). In the association groups (association protocols), the animals were treated with ethanol (E; 6 g/kg, orally) for 4 days, and on the fifth day received aminophylline (A; 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), 30 min after the last ethanol administration (first protocol, E/A). In the second association protocol (A/E), ethanol was administered for 4 days, and on the fifth day the animals received aminophylline (A; 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), followed again by ethanol (E; 6 g/kg, orally) administration, 30 min later. E (6 g/kg) evoked a central nervous system depressor effect, by decreasing both the locomotor activity and rearing in the open field test, and A (5 and 10 mg/kg) showed opposite effects. However, the E/A or A/E associations blocked the ethanol effect. In the rota rod test, ethanol presented a muscular relaxant effect, which was decreased in both association protocols. In the tail suspension test, while the E/A association decreased immobility, A/E association increased it, as compared with controls. In conclusion, the effects of ethanol were inhibited by its association with aminophylline, suggesting that ethanol acts on the adenosine neurotransmission.
Soares
Paula Matias
PM
Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Brazil.
Patrocínio
Manoel Cláudio Azevedo
MC
Assreuy
Ana Maria S
AM
Siqueira
Rômulo C L
RC
Lima
Natália Martins
NM
Arruda
Marta de Oliveira V
Mde O
de Souza Escudeiro
Sarah
S
de Carvalho
Krishnamurti Moraes
KM
Sousa
Francisca Cléa Florenço
FC
Viana
Glauce Socorro Barros
GS
Vasconcelos
Silvânia Maria Mendes
SM
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; D000628:Aminophylline; D000431:Ethanol