Differentiating the Neuropharmacological Properties of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Activating Alkaloids.

ABSTRACT: Alkaloids that target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are of great interest because of the critical role they play in mood and anxiety. However, understanding of the neuropharmacological effects of nicotinic alkaloids, such as cotinine and anatabine, is very limited. In this study, we investigated the neuropharmacological effects of three naturally occurring alkaloids-nicotine, cotinine, and anatabine-in vitro and in vivo. A single injection of nicotine induced anxiolytic-like behavioral features in mice by using the SmartCube^® behavioral profiling system, while cotinine and anatabine had no detectable effect. The results were corroborated by using the zebrafish novel tank test (NTT), which showed a profound anxiolytic-like effect induced by multiple dose

SUBMITTER: Alijevic O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8980233 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature