Molecular Neurobiology
November 24, 2020
Luisa Ponzoni, M. Teh, J. V. Torres-Pérez et al.
An interactive effect between nicotine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been reported but the mechanism underlying such interaction is not completely understood. This study used zebrafish to explore gene expression changes associated with altered sensitivity to the rewarding effects of MDMA following 2-week exposure to nicotine and 2–60 days of nicotine withdrawal. Reward...
Brain Sciences
August 25, 2020
Micaela Tirri, Luisa Ponzoni, Sabrine Bilel et al.
9 citations
The drastic increase in hallucinogenic compounds in illicit drug markets of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is a worldwide threat. Among these, 2, 5-dimetoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine (DOB) and paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA; marketed as “ecstasy”) are frequently purchased on the dark web and consumed for recreational purposes during rave/dance parties. In fact, these two substances seem to induce the...
Frontiers in Psychiatry
August 13, 2017
Luisa Ponzoni, Daniela Braida, Gianpietro Bondiolotti et al.
9 citations
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its derivatives, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine hydrobromide (DOB) and para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) are recreational drugs whose pharmacological effects have recently been attributed to serotonin 5HT2A/C receptors. However, there is growing evidence that the oxytocin/vasopressin system can modulate some the effects of MDMA. In this study, MDMA...
Behavioural Brain Research
November 1, 2016
Luisa Ponzoni, Mariaelvina Sala, Daniela Braida
Little is known about the pharmacological effects of amphetamine derivatives. In the present study, the effect on social preference and anxiety-like behavior of 2,5-dimetoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine hydrobromide (DOB) and para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA), in comparison with 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was investigated in zebrafish, an emerging model to study emotional behavior in an...
Psychopharmacology
August 2016
Luisa Ponzoni, Daniela Braida, Mariaelvina Sala
The synthetic phenethylamines are recreational drugs known to produce psychostimulant effects. However, their abuse potential has not been widely studied. Here, we investigated the rewarding and the hallucinatory effects of 2,5-dimetoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine hydrobromide (DOB) and para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) in comparison with the classical 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In addition,...
International journal of toxicology
December 1, 2011
Daniela Braida, Andrea Donzelli, Roberta Martucci et al.
29 citations
The effects of salvinorin A (Salvia divinorum principal ingredient), a potent κ-opioid natural hallucinogen, on learning and memory were investigated. Wistar rats were tested in the 8-arm radial maze, for object recognition and passive avoidance tasks for spatial, episodic, and aversive memory. Attention was assessed using a latent inhibition task. Salvinorin A (80-640 μg/kg subcutaneous [sc])...
Hippocampus
August 2009
Tiziana Rubino, Natalia Realini, Daniela Braida et al.
Marijuana and hashish are the illicit drugs most frequently used by human adolescents. Given the continued neurodevelopment throughout adolescence, adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to certain neural consequences of heavy marijuana use. This study aimed to assess whether an experimental model of adolescent chronic exposure to Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), may induce lasting...
British Journal of Pharmacology
May 5, 2009
Daniela Braida, Valeria Capurro, Alessia Zani et al.
145 citations
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Drugs targeting brain kappa-opioid receptors produce profound alterations in mood. In the present study we investigated the possible anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist salvinorin A, the main active ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in rats and mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Experiments were performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats...
Neurotoxicity Research
May 2009
Tiziana Rubino, Natalia Realini, Daniela Braida et al.
We recently demonstrated that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) chronic administration in female adolescent rats induces alterations in the emotional circuit ending in depressive-like behavior in adulthood. Since cognitive dysfunction is a major component of depression, we assessed in these animals at adulthood different forms of memory. Adolescent female rats were treated with THC or its...
Neuropsychopharmacology
October 2008
Tiziana Rubino, Daniela Vigano', Natalia Realini et al.
Few and often contradictory reports exist on the long-term neurobiological consequences of cannabinoid consumption in adolescents. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role during the different stages of brain development as cannabinoids influence the release and action of different neurotransmitters and promote neurogenesis. This study tested whether long-lasting interference by...
Biological Psychiatry
February 1, 2008
Daniela Braida, Valeria Limonta, Valeria Capurro et al.
107 citations
The recreational drug, Salvinorin A, derived from the plant of Salvia divinorum, is a potent and selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist. The abuse of selective k-agonists is a novel phenomenon, the mechanism of which is not fully understood. We investigated salvinorin A given SC on the conditioned place preference (.05-160 microg/kg) and intracerebroventricular (ICV) self-administration (.01-1...
Neuropsychopharmacology
September 2007
Tiziana Rubino, Mariaelvina Sala, Daniela Viganò et al.
We investigated the effect of low doses of intraperitoneal Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on anxiety behavior in rats using the elevated plus maze (EPM). An anxiolytic effect was obtained in a range of doses between 0.075 and 1.5 mg/kg, the 0.75 dose being the most effective. Pretreatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 fully reversed THC's effect, suggesting CB1 receptors were...
Psychopharmacology
March 2007
Daniela Braida, Valeria Limonta, Simona Pegorini et al.
The hallucinatory effect and potential abuse of salvinorin A, the major ingredient of Salvia divinorum, has not been documented in animals. The effects of salvinorin A on the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model, through its swimming behavior and conditioned place preference (CPP) task, was studied. Swimming activity was determined in a squared observational chamber after an i.m. treatment of...
European Journal of Pharmacology
January 26, 2007
Daniela Braida, Valeria Limonta, Lorenzo Malabarba et al.
The mechanism mediating the effects of cannabinoids on anxiety-related responses appear to involve cannabinoid CB1 and non-CB1 receptors. However, other neurotransmitters may play a role in such effect. This study shows evidence of an interaction between endocannabinoid system and serotonin (5-HT), 1A receptor subtype on anxiety-like behavior in Sprague-Dawley rats. The exogenous cannabinoid...
British Journal of Pharmacology
August 1, 2002
Daniela Braida, Mariaelvina Sala
64 citations
I.c.v. self‐administration of MDMA (0.01–2 μg per infusion), alone and in combination with CP 55,940 (0.4 μg infusion −1 ), was studied on an operant responding procedure. On the basis of individual preference for one of two levers, developed during training, rats were allowed to self‐administer vehicle from the preferred lever and MDMA from the other. Pressings on the MDMA associated‐lever,...