Effects of Low Doses of the Novel Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Derivative BNN27 in Rat Models of Anxiety

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2023 Nov 2

PMID 37917180

Authors

Evangelia Fragkiadaki

Lamprini Katsanou

Foteini Vartzoka

Achille Gravanis

Nikolaos Pitsikas

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rationale: Several lines of evidence indicate that the neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is involved in anxiety. BNN27 is a new DHEA derivative lacking steroidogenic effects. The beneficial effects exerted by BNN27 in preclinical models of schizophrenia and memory disorders have been recently reported.

Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of this DHEA novel analog on anxiety-like behavior in rats.

Methods: To this end, the light/dark box, the open field, the contextual fear conditioning, and the excessive self-grooming induced by the serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist mCPP tests were utilized.

Results: Animals treated acutely with BNN27 (1, 3, and 6 mg/kg) dose dependently spent more time in the bright compartment of the light/dark box and in the central zone of the open field with respect to their vehicle-treated cohorts. Further, BNN27 reduced freezing behavior and weakened the mCPP-induced excessive self-grooming.

Conclusions: Our data indicate that BNN27 is a highly potent anxiolytic agent, as in all studied paradigms it showed anxiolytic-like effects in male rats.

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