Research article summary (published 5 Oct 2007):

Neuroendocrine, behavioral and macrophage activity changes induced by picrotoxin effects in mice.

Full Abstract

The relevance and property of studies related to stress effects on immune function are undisputable. All studies conducted on stress-immune relationships, however, provide from physical and/or psychological stressors. Indeed, as far as it is of our knowledge brain-innate immune responses were not analyzed after anxiogenic-like drugs use. The present experiment was then undertaken to analyze the effects of picrotoxin (0.3, 0.6 and 1.0mg/kg doses) on behavior, macrophage activity, serum corticosterone and noradrenaline (NE) levels and turnover in the brain of adult mice. Results showed that picrotoxin treatment in mice: (1) decreased motor and rearing activities in an open-field; (2) decreased the number of entries into the plus-maze open-arms and decreased the time spent in the exploration of the plus-maze open-arms; (3) decreased both motor activity and the level of holes exploration in the hole-board; (4) increased the levels of serum corticosterone in dose-dependent way; (5) increased noradrenaline (NE) and MHPG levels and NE turnover in the hypothalamus; and (6) increased Staphylococcus aureus and PMA-induced macrophage oxidative burst. However, and contrary to that reported after physical or psychological stress, this drug induced no effects on macrophage phagocytosis and NE levels and turnover in the frontal cortex. The present results are thus showing that picrotoxin induces some but not all neuro-innate immunity changes previously reported for inescapable foot-shock and psychological stressors in mice. These facts suggest that this chemical stressor triggers CNS pathways that might be somehow different from those fired by inescapable foot-shock and psychological stressors, leading to different neuro-innate immune responses.

Author information

Author/s: Stankevicius, D (D); Rodrigues-Costa, E C (EC); Camilo Flório, J (J); Palermo-Neto, J (J);

Affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Neuropharmacology (Neuropharmacology), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 54 (issue 2) : pp 300-8

Dates: Created 2008/01/21; Completed 2008/05/12; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 18022650, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Animals Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology Anxiety - psychology Behavior, Animal - drug effects Brain Chemistry - drug effects Corticosterone - blood Diazepam - pharmacology Flow Cytometry GABA Antagonists - pharmacology Hypothalamus - drug effects; physiology

Immunity, Innate - drug effects Macrophages, Alveolar - drug effects Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol - metabolism Mice Neurosecretory Systems - drug effects Norepinephrine - metabolism Picrotoxin - pharmacology Prefrontal Cortex - drug effects; metabolism Respiratory Burst - drug effects Stress, Psychological - immunology; psychology

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Anti-Anxiety Agents (0) ; GABA Antagonists (0) ; Picrotoxin (124-87-8) ; Diazepam (439-14-5) ; Corticosterone (50-22-6) ; Norepinephrine (51-41-2) ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (534-82-7)

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