1. Differential Effects of a Full and Biased Ghrelin Receptor Agonist in a Mouse Kindling Model.
- Author
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Buckinx A, Van Den Herrewegen Y, Pierre A, Cottone E, Ben Haj Salah K, Fehrentz JA, Kooijman R, De Bundel D, and Smolders I
- Subjects
- Animals, Benzazepines pharmacology, Brain drug effects, Brain physiology, Dopamine Agonists pharmacology, Glycine analogs & derivatives, Glycine pharmacology, Indoles pharmacology, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Piperidines pharmacology, Quinazolinones pharmacology, Receptors, Ghrelin antagonists & inhibitors, Triazoles pharmacology, Tryptophan analogs & derivatives, Tryptophan pharmacology, beta-Arrestins pharmacology, Brain metabolism, Kindling, Neurologic, Receptors, Ghrelin agonists
- Abstract
The ghrelin system has received substantial recognition as a potential target for novel anti-seizure drugs. Ghrelin receptor (ghrelin-R) signaling is complex, involving Gα
q/11 , Gαi/o , Gα12/13 , and β-arrestin pathways. In this study, we aimed to deepen our understanding regarding signaling pathways downstream the ghrelin-R responsible for mediating anticonvulsive effects in a kindling model. Mice were administered the proconvulsive dopamine 1 receptor-agonist, SKF81297, to gradually induce a kindled state. Prior to every SKF81297 injection, mice were treated with a ghrelin-R full agonist (JMV-1843), a Gαq and Gα12 biased ligand unable to recruit β-arrestin (YIL781), a ghrelin-R antagonist (JMV-2959), or saline. Mice treated with JMV-1843 had fewer and less severe seizures compared to saline-treated controls, while mice treated with YIL781 experienced longer and more severe seizures. JMV-2959 treatment did not lead to differences in seizure severity and number. Altogether, these results indicate that the Gαq or Gα12 signaling pathways are not responsible for mediating JMV-1843's anticonvulsive effects and suggest a possible involvement of β-arrestin signaling in the anticonvulsive effects mediated by ghrelin-R modulation.- Published
- 2019
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