9 research outputs found
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) induce neurogenesis and improve cognitive performances of male Sprague Dawley rats
Neurogenesis is influenced by various external factors such as enriched environments. Some researchers had postulated that neurogenesis has contributed to the hippocampal learning and memory. This project was designed to observe the effect of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) in cognitive performance that influenced by the neurogenesis. Different doses of ∆9-THC were used for observing the neurogenesis mechanism occurs in the hippocampus of rats. The brains were stained with antibodies, namely BrdU, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nestin, doublecortin (DCX) and class III β-tubulin (TuJ-1). The cognitive test was used novel-object discrimination test (NOD) while the proteins involved, DCX and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), were measured. Throughout this study, ∆9-THC enhanced the markers involved in all stages of neurogenesis mechanism. Simultaneously, the cognitive behaviour of rat also showed improvement in learning and memory functions observed in behavioural test and molecular perspective. Administration of ∆9-THC was observed to enhance the neurogenesis in the brain, especially in hippocampus thus improved the cognitive function of rats
Establishment of human neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH) as an in vitro model of morphine addiction
The usage of morphine for analgesic purposes are widely known, usually for the post-operation procedure and as chronic pain management. However, addiction and overdose liabilities prior to morphine usage are also common. Morphine addiction is observed and studied from various perspectives; tolerance, dependence and withdrawal. With growing and expending research field, researches on addiction were done using in vivo and in vitro model. However, the scientific evidence of morphine addiction using human neuroblastoma cell lines is uncommon. Thus, the present study was designed and conducted to observe the liability of SK-N-SH, as a model for morphine addiction. The cells were administrated with morphine for 24 hours before being treated with methadone. The cytosolic fraction of the cell was collected and used for determining the addiction mechanism. Data showed the involvement of the µ-opioid receptor in expressing the addictive properties of morphine. Exposure to 24-hours morphine had increased the protein level responsible for addiction and reduce the protein levels expressing the endocytic machinery, desensitisation of receptor and cellular adaptation. The altered proteins level was normalised by the treatment of methadone. The study proposed the use of SK-N-SH as an addiction model, as it showed morphine addiction and methadone anti-addiction properties
Preliminary Study on Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC): Hemispheric Lateralization with Behavioural Changes
This study is designed inspired by the fact that there is an interhemisphere asymmetry of the brain region. A lot of researches studied in demonstrating the differences between right and left hemispheres of the brain. The objective of this preliminary study is to observe scientifically the effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) on the hemispheric lateralization with behavioural changes. Two regions of brain are selected, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Behavioural tests, namely heat stress test and novel-object discrimination test (NOD), were done on day seven. The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex regions of the brain were preceded to Western Blot technique in detecting c-fos. As for behavioural tests, heat stress and NOD and c-fos on hippocampus did not show significant differences. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex shows significant difference with p < 0.01. With these findings, reasonable dosages of ∆9-THC should be used to have statistically significant differences effects on behavioural tests. 
Erythroxylum cuneatum regulates the cell adaptation through the ERK 1/2 signalling in addictive morphine-induced cell line
Introduction: Chronic treatment of morphine stimulates
prolonged activation of the µ-opioid receptor, causes
the stimulation of cellular adaptation through ERK 1/2
pathway. The abrupt termination of chronic morphine was
observed to cause withdrawal activity through the same
pathway. The alkaloid extract of Erythroxylum cuneatum
was proposed to have anti-withdrawal properties against
morphine, regardless of lacking information on the
cellular adaptation. Objectives: The in vitro study, using
the neuroblastoma cell line; SK-N-SH, was designed
to observe the morphine withdrawal activities in the
cellular adaptation perspective against the plant extract
and methadone. Materials and Methods: To achieve
the objective, the cells were pre-treated with morphine.
Meanwhile, to observe the antagonistic activity, the
cells were co-treated with morphine and plant extract
or morphine with methadone. The protein expression of respective proteins for cellular adaptation; mitogenactivated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated
(ERK) kinase 1/2 (MEK 1/2), extracellular signal-regulated
kinase 2 (ERK 2), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA),
protein kinases C (PKC), were obtained from western blot
technique. Results: The finding showed pre-treated cell
with morphine expressed higher content of MEK 1/2, ERK
2, PKA and PKC, as compared to co-treatment of morphine.
In regards, the co-treatment and post-treatment of
methadone and extract of E. cuneatum were evaluated to
normalise the changes affected by morphine, comparable
to the control group. Conclusion: E. cuneatum was
postulated to have anti-withdrawal property mimicking
the methadone and react on the same pathway with
methadone and morphine observed through antagonistic
activity. E. cuneatum was suggested to normalise the effect
of chronic morphine via ERK 1/2 signalling pathway
Morphine Antidependence of Erythroxylum cuneatum (Miq.) Kurz in Neurotransmission Processes In Vitro
Opiate abuse has been studied to cause adaptive changes observed in the presynaptic release and the mediated-synaptic plasticity proteins. The involvement of neuronal SNARE proteins reveals the role of the neurotransmitter release in expressing the opioid actions. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the alkaloid extract of Erythroxylum cuneatum (E. cuneatum) against chronic morphine and the influences of E. cuneatum on neurotransmission processes observed in vitro. The human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH, was treated with the morphine, methadone, or E. cuneatum. The cell lysates were collected and tested for -synuclein, calmodulin, vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP 2), and synaptotagmin 1. The extract of E. cuneatum was observed to upregulate the decreased expression of dependence proteins, namely, -synuclein and calmodulin. The effects were comparable to methadone and control. The expressions of VAMP 2 and synaptotagmin 1 were normalised by the plant and methadone. The extract of E. cuneatum was postulated to treat dependence symptoms after chronic morphine and improve the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor activating protein receptor (SNARE) protein involved in synaptic vesicle after
Morphine antidependence of Erythroxylum cuneatum (Miq.) kKurz in neurotransmission processes in vitro
Opiate abuse has been studied to cause adaptive changes observed in the presynaptic release and the mediated-synaptic plasticity proteins. The involvement of neuronal SNARE proteins reveals the role of the neurotransmitter release in expressing the opioid actions. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the alkaloid extract of Erythroxylum cuneatum (E. cuneatum) against chronic morphine and the influences of E. cuneatum on neurotransmission processes observed in vitro. The human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH, was treated with the morphine, methadone, or E. cuneatum. The cell lysates were collected and tested for α-synuclein, calmodulin, vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP 2), and synaptotagmin 1. The extract of E. cuneatum was observed to upregulate the decreased expression of dependence proteins, namely, α-synuclein and calmodulin. The effects were comparable to methadone and control. The expressions of VAMP 2 and synaptotagmin 1 were normalised by the plant and methadone. The extract of E. cuneatum was postulated to treat dependence symptoms after chronic morphine and improve the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor activating protein receptor (SNARE) protein involved in synaptic vesicle after
Sedative, cognitive impairment and anxiolytic effects of acute Mitragyna speciosa in rodents
Mitragyna speciosa, a plant from Rubiaceae family, was reported to have an opium-like effect and their coca-like stimulative ability to combat fatigue and enhance tolerance to hard work. There are lack of information regarding to the effect of Mitragyna speciosa on cognitive and behavioural performances. Therefore the project was conducted to observe the effect of Mitragyna speciosa on cognitive behavior of rats and mice. Mitragyna speciosa in methanol extract form and aqueous extract form with same dosage distributions were used; 10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg. Four tests were conducted to observe the behavioural changes of the animal namely locomotor, cognitive performances, anxiety and rotarod performance. Results showed that all dosage of treatment reduced locomotor and impaired cognitive performance significantly. Study showed that Mitragyna speciosa induce sedative effect in dose dependant manner. Interestingly, Mitragyna speciosa increased the time spent in open arm of plus maze indicating low anxiety level of the rodent. As conclusion, Mitragyna speciosa caused sedative effect, impairment in working memory, and possess anxiolytic properties
In vivo toxicity study of Erythroxylum cuneatum leaves extract and its effects on working memory of rats
Erythroxylum cuneatum has been traditionally proven to possess beneficial properties in treating drug addiction and other illness. Due to less information on this plant, this elusive plant was investigated further to evaluate the in vivo toxicity profile of the plant and to investigate the effect of E. cuneatum on cognitive performance in rats. Two different extracts were produced from the leaves of E. cuneatum which were aqueous and alkaloid extracts. Acute in vivo toxicity test was evaluated in ICR mice to determine their medium lethal dose 50 value. In the in-vivo toxicity study, aqueous extract showed the almost similar toxic effect as alkaloid extract which was 416.86 mg/kg for alkaloid extract and 316.23 mg/kg for aqueous extract. These findings suggesting that aqueous and alkaloid extracts showed toxic effects at the high dose, thus safe at a low dose. Working memory task using novel object discrimination test (NOD) was performed for the determination of neurobehavioral profiles. In the NOD test, alkaloid-treated rats did not show any significant discrimination between the familiar and novel object (P > 0.05); thus it can be interpreted as not induce a memory defi cit. It can also be postulated that the extract has no effect on memory and learning neither improvises nor impairs the cognitive function. In conclusion, since E. cuneatum does not show any impairment on cognitive, its pharmacological properties could be further investigated without significant changes in cognitive performance
