Abstract

Planarians are traditional animal models in developmental and regeneration biology. Recently, these organisms are arising as vertebrate-relevant animal models in neuropharmacology. Using an adaptation of published behavioral protocols, we have described the alleviation of cocaine-induced planarian seizure-like movements (pSLM) by a naturally-occurring sesquiterpene lactone, parthenolide. Interestingly, parthenolide does not prevent the expression of pSLM induced by amphetamines; in vertebrates, amphetamines interact with the same protein target as cocaine. Parthenolide is also unable to prevent pSLM elicited by the cholinergic com-pounds nicotine and cytisine or by the glutamatergic agents L- or D- glutamic acid or NMDA. Thus, we conclude that parthenolide is a specific anti-cocaine agent in this experimental organism.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Pagán OR, Baker D, Deats S, Montgomery E, Tenaglia M, Randolph C, Kotturu D, Tallarida C, Bach D, Wilk G, Rawls S, Raffa RB

Institution

Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA. opagan@wcupa.edu

Source

The International journal of developmental biology 56:1-3 2012 pg 193-6

MeSH

Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Behavior, Animal
Cocaine
Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
Methamphetamine
N-Methylaspartate
Nicotine
Nicotinic Agonists
Planarians
Regeneration
Seizures
Sesquiterpenes

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22451007