Effects of Administration of Perinatal Bupropion on the Population Spike Amplitude in Neonatal Rat Hippocampal Slice

Objective(s)Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is widely used in smoke cessation under FDA approval. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can help to finding out its mechanism(s) for stopping nicotine dependence. In this study the effects of perinatal bupropion on the population spike (PS) amplitude of neonates were investigated. Materials and Methods Hippocampal slices were prepared from 18-25 days old rat pups. The experimental groups included control and bupropion-treated. Bupropion (40 mg/Kg, i.p.) was applied daily in perinatal period as pre-treatment. Due to the studying acute effects, bupropion was also added to the perfusion medium (10, 50, 200 μM for 30 min). The evoked PS was recorded from pyramidal layer of CA1 area, following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. ResultsA concentration of 10 μM bupropion had no significant effects on the PS amplitude. The 50 μM concentration of bupropion reduced the amplitude of responses in 50% of the studied cases. At a concentration of 200 μM, the recorded PS amplitudes were reduced in all slices (n= 22). Amplitude was completely abolished in 8 out of the 22 slices. The decrease of the PS amplitude was found to be more in the non-pre-treated slices than in the pre-treated slices when both were perfused with 200 μM bupropion.Conclusion The results showed the perinatal exposure to bupropion and its acute effects while indicating that at concentrations of 50 and 200 μM bupropion reduced the PS amplitude. It was also found that there was evidence of synaptic adaptation in comparison of bupropion-treated and non-treated slices whereas they were both perfused with 200 µM

Regional simulation and landslide risk prediction based on bivariate logistic regression (A case study: Pahne Kola watershed in north of Iran)

This study aims to assess landslide susceptibility in Pahne Kola watershed located in the south of Sari, based on bivariate logistic regression. For this purpose, the distribution map of the area’s landslides was firstly prepared in ArcGIS software. Eight effective factors on landslide event including elevation, slope, slope aspect, rainfall, land use, distance from the road, soil and geology were considered as independent variables. PGA is same for all the area because the study area is small. The independent variables including eight effective factors were including 61 sliding points as dependent variable, and number 1 was devoted to the presence and zero was devoted to absence of landslide. After quantitative analysis, the related data was transferred to SPSS software and after interpreting the coefficients, just the distance from the road was recognized as a significant variable influencing the final equation and the other independent variables were omitted from the final equation because of the lack of statistical correlation. After transferring the final probability equation to ArcGIS software, the landslide hazard map was prepared. Statistical model accuracy was evaluated and approved by omnibus test, model summary table, classification graph and table. Statistical evaluation of the model showed that the overall accuracy of prepared map was 85.2%

Acute Systemic Infusion of Bupropion Decrease Formalin Induced Pain Behavior in Rat

BACKGROUND: The chronic pain can disturb physical, psychological, and social performances. Analgesic agents are widely used but some antidepressants (ADs) showed analgesia also. Bupropion is using for smoke cessation but it can change morphine withdrawal signs such as pain. This study tested the acute systemic effect of bupropion on formalin induced pain behavior in rats. METHODS: Wistar male healthy rats were divided into 7 groups (control, sham, and 5 treated groups with 10, 30, 90, 120, and 200 mg/kg of bupropion, i.p.). The bupropion injected 3 hours prior to formalin induced pain behavior. Formalin (50 µl, 2.5%) was injected subcutaneously in dorsal region of right hindpaw in all animals. Nociceptive signs were observed continuously on-line and off-line each minute. Common pain scoring was used for pain assessment. RESULTS: The analysis of data by one-way ANOVA showed that bupropion can reduce pain scores in the second phase but not in first phase. Bupropion decreased the licking/biting duration significantly in first and second phase of formalin test. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that bupropion has analgesic effects at systemic application. The change of second phase of the pain behavior was significant and it revealed that central mechanisms involve in bupropion analgesia