Responses of dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic networks to acute levo-tetrahydropalmatine administration in naïve rats detected at 9.4 T. Magn Reson Imaging 2012 Feb;30(2):261-70
Date
11/15/2011Pubmed ID
22079072Pubmed Central ID
PMC3402210DOI
10.1016/j.mri.2011.09.006Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84855481910 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 15 CitationsAbstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to understand the neuropharmacological characteristics of levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), a recently found potential treatment for drug addiction, and discover its neural correlates and sites of action.
METHODS: High-field pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) was used to detect activation induced by acute l-THP administration in the naïve rat brain at dose levels of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg.
RESULTS: Interestingly, the pharmacological profile of l-THP selectively binds to the receptors of the dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic systems. Using the phMRI method, it was demonstrated that l-THP selectively activated the key brain regions of the dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic systems in a dose-dependent manner.
CONCLUSION: Numerous studies suggest a critical role of monoamines in the behavioral, pharmacological and addictive properties of psychostimulants. It is suggested that l-THP holds great potential to be a therapeutic medication for drug addiction.
Author List
Liu X, Yang Z, Li R, Xie J, Yin Q, Bloom AS, Li SJAuthors
Alan Bloom PhD, MA Emeritus Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of WisconsinShi-Jiang Li PhD, MS Emeritus Professor in the Biophysics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Adrenergic NeuronsAnimals
Berberine Alkaloids
Brain
Dopaminergic Neurons
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Nerve Net
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Serotonergic Neurons
