Drug Design, Development and Therapy (Sep 2020)
Effect of 4-Fluoro-N-(4-Sulfamoylbenzyl) Benzene Sulfonamide on Acquisition and Expression of Nicotine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization and Striatal Adenosine Levels
Abstract
Naeem Ur Rehman,1 Muzaffar Abbas,2 Mariya al-Rashida,3 Ahmed Tokhi,1 Muhammad Awais Arshid,4 Muhammad Sona Khan,1 Izhar Ahmad,1 Khalid Rauf1 1Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, Capital University of Science and Technology (CUST), Islamabad, Pakistan; 3Department of Chemistry, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore 54600, Pakistan; 4Aga Khan University, Karachi, PakistanCorrespondence: Khalid Rauf Tel +92 345 9824468Email [email protected]: Behavioral sensitization is a phenomenon that develops from intermittent exposure to nicotine and other psychostimulants, which often leads to heightened locomotor activity and then relapse. Sulfonamides that act as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors have a documented role in enhancing dopaminergic tone and normalizing neuroplasticity by stabilizing glutamate release.Objective: The aim of the current study was to explore synthetic sulfonamides derivative 4-fluoro-N-(4-sulfamoylbenzyl) benzene-sulfonamide (4-FBS) (with documented carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity) on acquisition and expression of nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization.Methods: In the acquisition phase, selected 5 groups of mice were exposed to saline or nicotine 0.5mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p) for 7 consecutive days. Selected 3 groups were administered with 4-FBS 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg p.o. along with nicotine. After 3 days of the drug-free period, ie, day 11, a challenge dose of nicotine was injected to all groups except saline and locomotor activity was recorded for 30 minutes. In the expression phase, mice were exposed to saline and nicotine only 0.5 mg/kg i.p for 7 consecutive days. After 3 days of the drug-free period, ie, day 11, 4-FBS at 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg were administered to the selected groups, one hour after drug a nicotine challenge dose was administered, and locomotion was recorded. At the end of behavioral experiments, all animals were decapitated and the striatum was excised and screened for changes in adenosine levels, using HPLC-UV.Results: Taken together, our findings showed that 4-FBS in all 3 doses, in both sets of experiments significantly attenuated nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization in mice. Additionally, 4-FBS at 60mg/kg significantly lowered the adenosine level in the striatum.Conclusion: The behavioral and adenosine modulation is promising, and more receptors level studies are warranted to explore the exact mechanism of action of 4-FBS.Keywords: 4-fluoro-N-(4-sulfamoylbenzyl) benzene-sulfonamide (4-FBS), nicotine sensitization, pharmacotherapy, drug addiction, locomotor activity, adenosine, HPLC
