Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are aimed at increasing brain 5-HT tone; however, this expected effect has a slow onset after starting SSRI treatment because of initial activation of 5-HT(1A) autoreceptor-mediated negative feedback of 5-HT release. After chronic SSRI treatment, 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors desensitize, which allows 5-HT tone elevation. Because 5-HT(1A) receptor (5-HT(1...

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that ghrelin inhibits the activity of Hypothalamus –Pituitary – Thyroid (H–P-T) axis. It is also proved that ghrelin increases appetite via Agouti Related Protein and neuropeptide Y pathway, decreases T3 & T4 secretion and inhibits serotonin release from hypothalamic synaptosomes. Serotonin may interact with ghrelin in control of thyroid hormones secr...

The potency of new indolic N1-phenethyl substituted melatoninergic ligands with and without methyl groups in the alpha and beta position of the alkanamidoethyl side chain was examined using the pigment aggregation response in a clonal line of Xenopus laevis melanophores. The non 5-OMe substituted compounds, 8a--e, are all weak antagonists while introduction of the 5-OMe group, 9a--e, increases ...

1-Aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid, an agonist of the metabotropic glutamate receptors 1, 2, 3 and 5, prevents neurotoxicity of glutamate and of N-methyl-D-aspartate in primary cultures of cerebellar neurons. The aim of this work was to assess which of the metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) is responsible for the protective effect. We tested the protective effects of selecti...

The effect of unilateral intranigral cannabinoid receptor stimulation on rotational behavior was explored. The potent cannabinoid agonist CP 55,940 (5 and 10 micrograms/0.5 microliter) induced contralateral turning when microinjected unilaterally into the substantia nigra pars reticulata. In addition, the cannabinoid agonist markedly attenuated the contralateral rotation induced by the dopamine...