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Objective: In the last few decades, serotonin type-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists have been identified as potential targets for anxiety disorders. In preclinical studies, 5-HT3 antagonists have shown promising antianxiety effects. In this study, a novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, QCM-13(N-cyclohexyl-3-methoxyquinoxalin-2-carboxamide) was evaluated for anxiolytic-like activity in rodent behavioral test battery. Materials and Methods: Mice were given QCM-13 (2 and 4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) or diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle and after 30 min, mice were subjected to four validated behavioral test batteries viz. elevated plus maze, hole board, light-dark and open field tests. Interaction study of QCM-13 with m-chlorophenyl piperazine (mCPP) (mCPP, a 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) and buspirone (BUS, a partial 5-HT1A agonist, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) were performed to assess the pharmacological mechanism of the drug. Results: QCM-13 expressed potential anxiolytic effect with significant (P < 0.05) increase in behavioral parameters measured in aforementioned preliminary models. Besides, QCM-13 was unable to reverse the anxiogenic effect of mCPP, but potentiated anxiolytic affect of BUS. Conclusion: The results suggest that QCM-13 can be a potential therapeutic candidate for the management of anxiety-like disorders and combination doses of novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with standard anxiolytics may improve therapeutic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes associated depression is a largely understudied fi eld which nonetheless carries a signifi cant disease burden. The very low therapeutic effi cacy of the existing conventional drugs with poor outcome may be, in part, due to uncertainty of the mechanism involved that clearly explains the existing comorbidity. The main purpose of this review was to address the sophisticated mechanisms of this comorbidity with a view of developing potential novel targets with higher effi cacy and specifi city. Data were collected from database searches including PubMed, references from relevant English language research/review articles and other offi cial publications. Articles from 1990 to 2013 were included, and a broad search term criteria were followed for data mining so that relevant information was not missed out. Some of the search terms used included; diabetes-induced depression, diabetes and serotonin, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and diabetes and glucocorticoids in diabetes. Neuropathologically, depletion of brain monoaminergic activity specifi cally the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) system, due to chronically persisting diabetic state may lead to the mood and behavioral complications that further add on worsening the quality life years. The 5-HT system through multifunctional tasks regulates neurogenesis and plasticity and by complex receptor mechanism controls the emotional and behavioral activity. Persisting hyperglycemia leads to impaired neurogenesis, decreased synaptic plasticity, undesired neuro-anatomical alterations, neurochemical defi cits, and reduced neurotransmitter activity. The neurotrophic factors and secondary messenger functions affected at molecular and genetic levels indicate the impact of diabetes-mediated dysregulation on neuronal circuits. HPA activity, glycogen synthase kinase 3, and insulin signaling controls were also found to be hampered, interlinked to 5-HT system following diabetic progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate a novel 5 HT 3 receptor antagonist (6g) on chronic stress induced changes in behavioural and brain oxidative stress parameter in mice. A complicated relationship exists among stressful stimuli, body's reaction to stress and the onset of clinical depression. Chronic unpredictable stressors can produce a situation similar to human depression, and such animal models can be used for the preclinical evaluation of antidepressants. Materials and Methods: In the present study, a novel and potential 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (4-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)(3-methoxyquinoxalin-2-yl) methanone (6g) with good Log P (3.08) value and pA2 (7.5) values, synthesized in our laboratory was investigated to study the effects on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced behavioural and biochemical alterations in mice. Mice were subjected to different stress paradigms daily for a period of 28 days to induce depressive-like behaviour. Results: The results showed that CUMS caused depression-like behaviour in mice, as indicated by the significant (P < 0.05) decrease in sucrose consumption and locomotor activity and increase in immobility the forced swim test. In addition, it was found that lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased, whereas glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities decreased in brain tissue of CUMS-treated mice. '6g' (1 and 2 mg/kg, p.o., 21 days) and fluoxetine treatment (20 mg/kg, p.o., 21 days) signficantly (P < 0.05) reversed the CUMS-induced behavioural (increased immobility period, reduced sucrose preference and decreased locomotor activity) and biochemical (increased lipid peroxidation; decreased glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities). However fluoxetine treatment (20 mg/kg, p.o., 21 days) significantly decreased the nitrite level in the brain while '6g' (1 and 2 mg/kg, p.o., 21 days) did not show significant (P < 0.05) effect on the nitrite levels in brain. Conclusion: Compound '6g' exerted antidepressant-like effects in behavioural despair paradigm in chronically stressed mice by restoring antioxidant mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the anti-anxiety activity of "6k", a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist in in mice. Materials and Methods: Anti-anxiety activity of "6k" (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) was evaluated in mice by behavioral tests such as elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), light-dark box (L&D), and hole board test (HBT). Diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) served as reference standard. Results: "6k" significantly (P < 0.05) increased the time and entries in open arm in EPM as compared to vehicle control group. Further, "6k" significantly (P < 0.05) increased the central and peripheral ambulation along with rearings and time in central area; whereas, reduced the fecal pellets in OFT as compared to vehicle control group. There was significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the latency to enter dark chamber; whereas, increased number of crossings and time in light chamber in L&D aversion test by treatment with "6k" as compared to vehicle control group. In HBT, "6k" significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of head dipping and squares crossed; whereas, reduced the latency for first head dip and number of fecal pellets as compared to vehicle control group. Conclusion: A novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist has anti-anxiety action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is an important risk factor for depression as more than half of the obese population is susceptible for depression at double rate. Our earlier studies reported the antidepressant potential of 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron (OND) in depression associated obesity using behavioral tasks. The present research work is aimed to evaluate the effect of OND on depression associated with obesity with special emphasis on biochemical and molecular mechanisms such as hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), hippocampal histological examination and immunohistochemical expression of p53 proteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks, followed by treatment schedule for 28 days with vehicle/OND (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, p.o.)/reference antidepressant escitalopram (10 mg/kg, p.o.). Subsequently, animals were screened in the behavioral tests of depression such as forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference test (SPT), biochemical estimations including hippocampal cAMP, BDNF and 5-HT, and molecular assays mainly histology and p53 expression of dentate gyrus (DG). RESULTS: HFD-fed mice showed increased immobility time in FST, reduced sucrose consumption in SPT, decreased level of signal transduction factor cAMP, neuronal growth factor BDNF and neurotransmitter 5-HT in the hippocampus, and raised and p53 expression neuronal damage in the DG region of mice fed with HFD in comparison to the mice fed with normal pellet diet. Chronic treatment with OND (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited the behavioral, biochemical and molecular modifications in HFD-fed mice. CONCLUSION: In the preliminary study, OND attenuated depression associated with obesity in mice fed with HFD using various assays procedures, at least in part by the modulation of serotonergic transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the anxiolytic activity of "N-n-propyl-3-ethoxyquinoxaline-2-carboxamide (6n)," a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine Type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist in experimental mouse models of anxiety. Materials and Methods: The anxiolytic activity of "6n" (1 and 2 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) was evaluated in mice by using a battery of behavioral tests of anxiety such as elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark (L and D) box, hole board (HB) and open field test (OFT) with diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) as standard anxiolytic. All the tested doses of "6n" did not affect the base line locomotion. Results: The new chemical entity "6n" (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the percentage of time spent and number of entries in open arm in the EPM test. In the L and D test compound "6n" (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the total time spent in light compartment as well as the number of transitions from one compartment to other. While "6n" (2 mg/kg, i.p.), diazepam (2 mg/kg) showed a significant increase in number of square crossed and "6n" at (1 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect the number of square crossed significantly. Compound "6n" (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) also significantly increased number of head dips and number of square crossed in HB test whereas significantly decreased the head dipping latency as compared with vehicle control group. In addition, "6n" (1 and 2 mg diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the ambulation scores and number of rearing in OFT. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings indicated that compound "6n" exhibited an anxiolytic-like effect in animal models of anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the antidepressant potential of N-n-butyl-3-ethoxyquinoxalin-2-carboxamide (6p), a novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist in rodent behavioral models of depression. Materials and Methods: The compound 6p was examined in various behavioral models like forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), mechanistic models [5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-induced head twitch and reserpine-induced hypothermia (RIH)], and in chronic surgery model-olfactory bulbectomy in rats. Results: Compound 6p (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg, i.p.) exhibited antidepressant-like effect in FST and TST after acute treatment without having an effect on baseline locomotor activity. Moreover, 6p (2 mg/kg, i.p.), potentiated the 5-HTP-induced head twitch responses in mice and inhibited the RIH in rats. Chronic treatment (14 days) with 6p (1 and 2 mg/kg, p.o.) and paroxetine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) in rats significantly reversed the behavioral anomalies induced by bilateral olfactory bulbectomy using open field exploration. Conclusion: The preliminary studies reveal that compound 6p exhibits antidepressant-like effect in behavioral rodent models of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the anxiolytic activity of 6g, a novel serotonin type-3 receptor (5-HT3) receptor antagonist in experimental mouse models of anxiety. Materials and Methods: The anxiolytic activity of "6g" (1 and 2 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) was evaluated in mice by using a battery of behavioral tests of anxiety such as elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark (L&D) box, hole board (HB), and open field test (OFT) with diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) as standard anxiolytic. None of the tested dose of "6g" affects the base line locomotion. Results: The new chemical entity "6g" (2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the percentage of time spent and number of entries in open arm in the EPM test. In the L&D test compound "6g" (2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the total time spent in light compartment as well as number of transitions from one compartment to other. Compound "6g" (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) also significantly (P < 0.05) increased number of head dips, whereas significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the head dipping latency in HB test as compared to vehicle control group. In addition, 6g (2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the ambulation scores (square crossed) in OFT and there was no significant effect of 6g (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.) on rearing scores. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings indicated that compound "6g" exhibited an anxiolytic-like effect in animal models of anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the antidepressant potential of (4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl) (quinoxalin-3-yl) methanone (4a), a novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, with an optimal log P (2.84) and pA2 value (7.3) greater than ondansetron (6.9) using rodent behavioural models of depression. Materials and Methods: Swiss albino mice were used in actophotometer test, forced swim test (FST) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) induced head twitch response. Reserpine induced hypothermia (RIH) and olfactory bulbectomy were performed in male Wistar rats. Statistical analysis was carried out by using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test. Results: Acute treatment of 4a (1-4 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice produced antidepressant-like effects in FST without affecting the baseline locomotion in actophotometer test. Further, 4a (2-4 mg/kg, i.p.) potentiated the 5-HTP induced head twitches response in mice and also antagonized RIH in rats. Furthermore, sub-chronic (14 days) treatment with 4a (2-4 mg/ kg, p.o.) significantly attenuated the behavioural anomalies induced by bilateral olfactory bulbectomy in rats in modified open field exploration. Conclusions: These preliminary investigations confirm that 4a exhibits antidepressant-like activity in behaviour based rodent models of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]