Neoechinulin A induced memory improvements and antidepressant-like effects in mice

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 71; pp. 155 - 161
• Main Authors: Sasaki-Hamada, Sachie, Hoshi, Maho, Niwa, Yuki, Ueda, Yudai, Kokaji, Aya, Kamisuki, Shinji, Kuramochi, Kouji, Sugawara, Fumio, Oka, Jun-Ichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 03.11.2016
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antidepressive Agents - chemistry; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Depression - drug therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Exploratory Behavior - drug effects; Forced-swim test; Hindlimb Suspension; Immobility Response, Tonic - drug effects; Indole Alkaloids - chemistry; Indole Alkaloids - therapeutic use; Lipopolysaccharides - toxicity; LPS; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Memory Disorders - chemically induced; Memory Disorders - drug therapy; Mice; Neoechinulin A; Piperazines - chemistry; Piperazines - therapeutic use; Serotonin; Swimming - psychology; Y-maze; PBS; PCPA; AD; Serotonin; DMSO; FST; WAY100635; s.c; i.p; Forced-swim test; LPS; NF-κB; SSRI; TST; ANOVA; i.c.v; Neoechinulin A; 5-HT; MAPKs; Y-maze
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.08.002

Neoechinulin A is an isoprenyl indole alkaloid that exhibits scavenging, neurotrophic factor-like, and anti-apoptotic activities. However, the effectiveness of neoechinulin A in animal models of disease has not yet been explored. In the present study, we investigated the effects of neoechinulin A on memory impairment in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice and its antidepressant-like effects in mice. In the Y-maze test, the intracerebroventicular (i.c.v.) administration of LPS (10μg/mouse) significantly decreased spontaneous alternation behavior, which was prevented by the prior administration of neoechinulin A (300ng/mouse, i.c.v.). None of the treatments altered the locomotor activity of mice. Moreover, the administration of neoechinulin A decreased the immobility time in the forced-swim test or tail suspension test, which was prevented by the prior administration of WAY100635 (an antagonist of 5-HT1A receptors) and parachlorophenylalanine (an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase). These results suggest that neoechinulin A improves memory functions in LPS-treated mice, and also exerts antidepressant-like effects through changes in the 5-HT system. •The administration of neoechinulin A improved memory function in LPS-treated mice.•The administration of neoechinulin A reduced the immobility time in the mouse FST.•PCPA prevented the antidepressant-like effects of neoechinulin A.•NAN-190 and ketanserin prevented the antidepressant-like effects of neoechinulin A.