Anxiolytic-like effects of a new 1-N substituted analog of melatonin in pinealectomized rats.
In spite of the wide variety of drugs available for treating anxiety, this disorder continues to represent a worldwide health problem that is classified within the first 10 causes of disability. Therefore, the search continues for new antianxiety agents, particularly those not related to benzodiazepines. Even though melatonin has been prescribed as an anxiolytic drug, its use is currently limited due to its short half-life and photo-sensitivity, among other disadvantages. The present study explores the antianxiety properties of a new 1-N substituted melatonin analog, M3C, in pinealectomized rats submitted to two behavioral tests (the cumulative burying behavior paradigm and the elevated plus-maze). Results from both tests show that M3C is effective as an anxiolytic-like agent, at doses lower than any other melatonin analog previously reported. The blocking of these actions by luzindole together with the available data suggests that the anxiolytic properties of M3C are mediated by MT1 and MT2 receptors.
Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, UNAM, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico D.F., Mexico.
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Bustamante-García
Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, UNAM, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico D.F., Mexico.
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Lira-Rocha
Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, UNAM, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico D.F., Mexico.
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Espejo-González
Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, UNAM, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico D.F., Mexico.
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Gómez-Martínez
Escuela Superior de Medicina, IPN, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón Col. Sto. Tomás, 11340 Mexico D.F., Mexico. Electronic address: rifo99mx@gmail.com.
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Picazo
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000494:pharmacology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014363:Tryptamines; C057154:luzindole; D008550:Melatonin
Anxiety; Burying behavior; Elevated plus-maze; Luzindole; Melatonin; Pinealectomy