Knowledge-Based Design of Long-Chain Arylpiperazine Derivatives Targeting Multiple Serotonin Receptors as Potential Candidates for Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by core symptoms such as impaired social interaction and communication, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, and restricted interests. To date, there are no effective treatments for these core symptoms. Several studies have shown that the brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission system is altered in both ASD patients and animal models of the disease. Multiple pieces of evidence suggest that targeting 5-HT receptors may treat the core symptoms of ASD and associated intellectual disabilities. In fact, stimulation of the 5-HT1A receptor reduces repetitive and restricted behaviors; blockade of the 5-HT2A receptor reduces both learning deficits and repetitive behavior, and activation of the 5-HT7 receptor improves cognitive performances and reduces repetitive behavior. On such a basis, we have designed novel arylpiperazine derivatives pursuing unprecedently reported activity profiles: dual 5-HT7/5-HT1A receptor agonist properties and mixed 5-HT7 agonist/5-HT1A agonist/5-HT2A antagonist properties. Seventeen new compounds were synthesized and tested in radioligand binding assay at the target receptors. We have identified the dual 5-HT1AR/5-HT7R agonists 8c and 29 and the mixed 5-HT1AR agonist/5-HT7R agonist/5-HT2AR antagonist 20b. These compounds are metabolically stable in vitro and have suitable central nervous system druglike properties

A high-fat diet induces rapid changes in the mouse hypothalamic proteome

Funding LMW, FMC, CG, ACM and C-DM were funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS). FHM was supported by an EASTBIO DTP BBSRC studentship. DS was supported by a SULSA studentship. CR was supported by the HOTSTART Scholarship Programme from the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen. Availability of data and materials All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its Supplementary information files].Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Metabolic response of auditory brainstem neurons to their broad physiological activity range

Neurons exhibit a high energetic need, and the question arises as how they metabolically adapt to changing activity states. This is relevant for interpreting functional neuroimaging in different brain areas. Particularly, neurons with a broad firing range might exhibit metabolic adaptations. Therefore, we studied MNTB (medial nucleus of the trapezoid body) principal neurons, which generate action potentials (APs) at frequencies up to several hundred hertz. We performed the experiments in acute brainstem slices of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) at 22.5–24.5°C. Upon electrical stimulation of afferent MNTB fibres with 400 stimuli at varying frequencies, we monitored autofluorescence levels of NAD(P)H and FAD and determined the extremum amplitudes of their biphasic response. Additionally, we compared these data with alterations in O2 concentrations measured with an electrochemical sensor. These O2 changes are prominent since MNTB neurons rely on oxidative phosphorylation as shown by our pharmacological experiments. We calculated the O2 consumption rate as change in O2 concentration divided by stimulus durations, because these periods varied inversely with stimulus frequency as a result of the constant number of 400 stimuli applied. The O2 consumption rate increased with stimulation frequency up to a constant value at 600 Hz; that is, energy demand depends on temporal characteristics of activity despite the same number of stimuli. The rates showed no correlation with peak amplitudes of NAD(P)H or FAD, whilst the values of the two molecules were linearly correlated. This points at the complexity of analysing autofluorescence imaging for quantitative metabolic studies, because these values report only relative net changes of many superimposed oxidative and reductive processes. Monitoring O2 concentration rates is, thus, an important tool to improve the interpretation of NAD(P)H/FAD autofluorescence data, as they do not under all conditions and in all systems appropriately reflect the metabolic activity or energy demand