Glutamatergic abnormalities in several brain regions, including the ventromedial orbitofrontal cortex (vmOFC) and prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), have been implicated in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). (R, S)-ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, and enantiopure (S)-ketamine may have therapeutic effects in patients and animal models of OCD....
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a commonly abused recreational drug, induces prosocial effects such as increased sociability and empathy. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been suggested to play a crucial role in these MDMA-mediated prosocial effects. However, the relationship between social behavior and NAc neural activity, and the effects of MDMA on this relationship, remain unknown....
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a recreational drug, induces euphoric sensations and psychosocial effects, such as increased sociability and empathy. Serotonin, also called 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter that has been associated with MDMA-induced prosocial effects. However, the detailed neural mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, we investigated whether...
The neurotrophic hypothesis of depression proposes that reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contribute to neuronal atrophy or loss in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus and impaired hippocampal adult neurogenesis, which are associated with depressive symptoms. Chronic, but acute, treatment with typical monoaminergic...
Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, exerts rapid and sustained antidepressant actions. Preclinical studies demonstrated that the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is essential for the antidepressant-like effects of ketamine. However, the role of other neurotrophic factors in the...
The antidepressant actions of the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine require activity-dependent release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Our recent study shows a similar requirement for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Previous studies have reported that both BDNF and VEGF activate TRPC3 and TRPC6 via diacylglycerol production, and...
AbstractA recreational drug, 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), has prosocial effects including increased sociability, enhancement of trust feelings, and empathy. Although several methods, such as the social interaction and three chamber tests, have been used, the neural mechanisms underlying the prosocial effects have not been well understood. In the present study, based on a social...
N-[[1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]carbonyl]-L-valine methyl ester (5F-AMB) is a synthetic cannabinoid that has been distributed recently. Although inhalation of 5F-AMB produces adverse effects, such as impaired memory and disturbed consciousness, in humans, the psychopharmacological effects of 5F-AMB in rodents have not been investigated. We first examined the effects of intraperitoneal...
PsychopharmacologyAugust 1, 2018Masaki Domoto, Hitoki Sasase, Shintaro Wada et al.
5F-AMB is one of the synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) designed to potentiate the ability to activate cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors and is abused worldwide. Although inhalation of 5F-AMB elicits serious adverse effects including impaired memory and consciousness, it is not known whether and how 5F-AMB affects the activity of pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain region...