1. Activation of α7 nicotinic receptors attenuated hyperalgesia and anxiety induced by palatable obesogenic diet withdrawal.
- Author
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AlSharari SD, Alameen AA, Aldafiri FS, Ali YS, Alshammari MA, Sari Y, and Damaj MI
- Subjects
- Animals, Male, Mice, Eating drug effects, Behavior, Animal drug effects, Weight Gain drug effects, alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor metabolism, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Anxiety etiology, Hyperalgesia etiology, Hyperalgesia metabolism, Benzamides pharmacology, Benzamides administration & dosage, Obesity psychology, Obesity metabolism, Bridged Bicyclo Compounds pharmacology
- Abstract
Consumption of palatable food (PF) can alleviate anxiety, and pain in humans. Contrary, spontaneous withdrawal of long-term PF intake produces anxiogenic-like behavior and abnormal pain sensation, causing challenges to weight-loss diet and anti-obesity agents. Thus, we examined α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) involvement since it plays essential role in nociception and psychological behaviors., Methods: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were placed on a Standard Chow (SC) alone or with PF on intermittent or continuous regimen for 6 weeks. Then, mice were replaced with normal SC (spontaneous withdrawal). Body weight, food intake, and calories intake with and without the obesogenic diet were measured throughout the study. During PF withdrawal, anxiety-like behaviors and pain sensitivity were measured with PNU-282987 (α7nAChR agonist) administration., Results: Six weeks of SC + PF-intermittent and continuous paradigms produced a significant weight gain. PF withdrawal displayed hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behaviors. During withdrawal, PNU-282987 significantly attenuated hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behaviors., Conclusion: The present study shows that a PF can increase food intake and body weight. Also, enhanced pain sensitivity and anxiety-like behavior were observed during PF withdrawal. α7nAChR activation attenuated anxiolytic-like behavior and hyperalgesia in PF abstinent mice. These data suggest potential therapeutic effects of targeting α7 nAChRs for obesity-withdrawal symptoms in obese subjects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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