title: Role of agmatine in neurodegenerative diseases and epilepsy.
abstract: Agmatine, a cationic polyamine synthesized after decarboxylation of L-arginine by the enzyme arginine decarboxylase, is an endogenous neuromodulator that emerges as a potential agent to manage diverse central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Consistent with its neuromodulatory and neuroprotective properties, there is increasing number of preclinical studies demonstrating the beneficial effects of exogenous agmatine administration on depression, anxiety, hypoxic ischemia, nociception, morphine tolerance, memory, Parkinson`s disease, Alzheimer`s disease, traumatic brain injury related alterations/disorders and epilepsy. The aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge about the effects of agmatine in CNS and point out its potential as new pharmacological treatment for diverse neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, some molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of agmatine will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Morgana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Filipe C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Matheus
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Neis
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ben
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Lucia S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, UFSC, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rui Daniel
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Prediger
mesh_terms: D000376:Agmatine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000376:Agmatine