TY  - JOUR
AU  - Divljaković, Jovana
AU  - Milić, Marija
AU  - Namjoshi, Ojas A.
AU  - Tiruveedhula, Veera V.
AU  - Timić, Tamara
AU  - Cook, James M.
AU  - Savić, Miroslav
PY  - 2013
UR  - https://farfar.pharmacy.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1931
AB  - The abrupt discontinuation of prolonged benzodiazepine treatment elicits a withdrawal syndrome with increased anxiety as a major symptom. The neural mechanisms underlying benzodiazepine physical dependence are still insufficiently understood. Flumazenil, the non-selective antagonist of the benzodiazepine binding site of GABA(A) receptors was capable of preventing and reversing the increased anxiety during benzodiazepine withdrawal in animals and humans in some, but not all studies. On the other hand, a number of data suggest that GABA(A) receptors containing alpha(1) subunits are critically involved in processes developing during prolonged use of benzodiazepines, such are tolerance to sedative effects, liability to physical dependence and addiction. Hence, we investigated in the elevated plus maze the level of anxiety 24 h following 21 days of diazepam treatment and the influence of flumazenil or a preferential alpha(1)-subunit selective antagonist beta CCt on diazepam withdrawal syndrome in rats. Abrupt cessation of protracted once-daily intraperitoneal administration of 2 mg/kg diazepam induced a withdrawal syndrome, measured by increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze 24 h after treatment cessation. Acute challenge with either flumazenil (10 mg/kg) or beta CCt (1.25, 5 and 20 mg/kg) alleviated the diazepam withdrawal-induced anxiety. Moreover, both antagonists induced an anxiolytic-like response close, though not identical, to that seen with acute administration of diazepam. These findings imply that the mechanism by which antagonism at GABA(A) receptors may reverse the withdrawal-induced anxiety involves the alpha(1) subunit and prompt further studies aimed at linking the changes in behavior with possible adaptive changes in subunit expression and function of GABA(A) receptors.
PB  - Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford
T2  - Brain Research Bulletin
T1  - βCCT, an antagonist selective for α1GABAA receptors, reverses diazepam withdrawal-induced anxiety in rats
VL  - 91
SP  - 1
EP  - 7
DO  - 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.10.011
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Divljaković, Jovana and Milić, Marija and Namjoshi, Ojas A. and Tiruveedhula, Veera V. and Timić, Tamara and Cook, James M. and Savić, Miroslav",
year = "2013",
abstract = "The abrupt discontinuation of prolonged benzodiazepine treatment elicits a withdrawal syndrome with increased anxiety as a major symptom. The neural mechanisms underlying benzodiazepine physical dependence are still insufficiently understood. Flumazenil, the non-selective antagonist of the benzodiazepine binding site of GABA(A) receptors was capable of preventing and reversing the increased anxiety during benzodiazepine withdrawal in animals and humans in some, but not all studies. On the other hand, a number of data suggest that GABA(A) receptors containing alpha(1) subunits are critically involved in processes developing during prolonged use of benzodiazepines, such are tolerance to sedative effects, liability to physical dependence and addiction. Hence, we investigated in the elevated plus maze the level of anxiety 24 h following 21 days of diazepam treatment and the influence of flumazenil or a preferential alpha(1)-subunit selective antagonist beta CCt on diazepam withdrawal syndrome in rats. Abrupt cessation of protracted once-daily intraperitoneal administration of 2 mg/kg diazepam induced a withdrawal syndrome, measured by increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze 24 h after treatment cessation. Acute challenge with either flumazenil (10 mg/kg) or beta CCt (1.25, 5 and 20 mg/kg) alleviated the diazepam withdrawal-induced anxiety. Moreover, both antagonists induced an anxiolytic-like response close, though not identical, to that seen with acute administration of diazepam. These findings imply that the mechanism by which antagonism at GABA(A) receptors may reverse the withdrawal-induced anxiety involves the alpha(1) subunit and prompt further studies aimed at linking the changes in behavior with possible adaptive changes in subunit expression and function of GABA(A) receptors.",
publisher = "Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford",
journal = "Brain Research Bulletin",
title = "βCCT, an antagonist selective for α1GABAA receptors, reverses diazepam withdrawal-induced anxiety in rats",
volume = "91",
pages = "1-7",
doi = "10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.10.011"
}

Divljaković, J., Milić, M., Namjoshi, O. A., Tiruveedhula, V. V., Timić, T., Cook, J. M.,& Savić, M.. (2013). βCCT, an antagonist selective for α1GABAA receptors, reverses diazepam withdrawal-induced anxiety in rats. in Brain Research Bulletin
Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford., 91, 1-7.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.10.011

Divljaković J, Milić M, Namjoshi OA, Tiruveedhula VV, Timić T, Cook JM, Savić M. βCCT, an antagonist selective for α1GABAA receptors, reverses diazepam withdrawal-induced anxiety in rats. in Brain Research Bulletin. 2013;91:1-7.
doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.10.011 .

Divljaković, Jovana, Milić, Marija, Namjoshi, Ojas A., Tiruveedhula, Veera V., Timić, Tamara, Cook, James M., Savić, Miroslav, "βCCT, an antagonist selective for α1GABAA receptors, reverses diazepam withdrawal-induced anxiety in rats" in Brain Research Bulletin, 91 (2013):1-7,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.10.011 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Milić, Marija
AU  - Timić, Tamara
AU  - Joksimović, Srđan
AU  - Biawat, Poonam
AU  - Rallapalli, Sundari
AU  - Divljaković, Jovana
AU  - Radulović, Tamara
AU  - Cook, James M.
AU  - Savić, Miroslav
PY  - 2013
UR  - https://farfar.pharmacy.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1926
AB  - Inverse agonism at the benzodiazepine site of alpha(5) subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors is an attractive approach for the development of putative cognition-enhancing compounds, which are still far from clinical application. Several ligands with binding and/or functional selectivity for alpha(5) GABA(A) receptors have been synthesized and tested in a few animal models. PWZ-029 is an alpha(5) GABA(A) selective inverse agonist whose memory enhancing effects were demonstrated in the passive avoidance task in rats and in Pavlovian fear conditioning in mice. In the present study we investigated the effects of PWZ-029 administration in novel object recognition test and Morris water maze, in normal and scopolamine-treated rats. All the three doses of PWZ-029 (2,5 and 10 mg/kg) improved object recognition after the 24-h delay period, as shown by significant differences between the exploration times of the novel and old object, and the respective discrimination indices. PWZ-029 (2 mg/kg) also successfully reversed the 0.3 mg/kg scopolamine-induced deficit in recognition memory after the 1-h delay. In the Morris water maze test, PWZ-029 (5,10 and 15 mg/kg) did not significantly influence swim patterns, either during five acquisition days or during the treatment-free probe trial. PWZ-029 (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg) also proved to be ineffective in the reversal of the 1 mg/kg scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the water maze. The present mixed results encourage use of a variety of tests and experimental conditions in order to increase the predictability of preclinical testing of selective as GABA(A) inverse agonists.
PB  - Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam
T2  - Behavioural Brain Research
T1  - PWZ-029, an inverse agonist selective for alpha(5) GABA(A) receptors, improves object recognition, but not water-maze memory in normal and scopolamine-treated rats
VL  - 241
SP  - 206
EP  - 213
DO  - 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.016
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Milić, Marija and Timić, Tamara and Joksimović, Srđan and Biawat, Poonam and Rallapalli, Sundari and Divljaković, Jovana and Radulović, Tamara and Cook, James M. and Savić, Miroslav",
year = "2013",
abstract = "Inverse agonism at the benzodiazepine site of alpha(5) subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors is an attractive approach for the development of putative cognition-enhancing compounds, which are still far from clinical application. Several ligands with binding and/or functional selectivity for alpha(5) GABA(A) receptors have been synthesized and tested in a few animal models. PWZ-029 is an alpha(5) GABA(A) selective inverse agonist whose memory enhancing effects were demonstrated in the passive avoidance task in rats and in Pavlovian fear conditioning in mice. In the present study we investigated the effects of PWZ-029 administration in novel object recognition test and Morris water maze, in normal and scopolamine-treated rats. All the three doses of PWZ-029 (2,5 and 10 mg/kg) improved object recognition after the 24-h delay period, as shown by significant differences between the exploration times of the novel and old object, and the respective discrimination indices. PWZ-029 (2 mg/kg) also successfully reversed the 0.3 mg/kg scopolamine-induced deficit in recognition memory after the 1-h delay. In the Morris water maze test, PWZ-029 (5,10 and 15 mg/kg) did not significantly influence swim patterns, either during five acquisition days or during the treatment-free probe trial. PWZ-029 (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg) also proved to be ineffective in the reversal of the 1 mg/kg scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the water maze. The present mixed results encourage use of a variety of tests and experimental conditions in order to increase the predictability of preclinical testing of selective as GABA(A) inverse agonists.",
publisher = "Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam",
journal = "Behavioural Brain Research",
title = "PWZ-029, an inverse agonist selective for alpha(5) GABA(A) receptors, improves object recognition, but not water-maze memory in normal and scopolamine-treated rats",
volume = "241",
pages = "206-213",
doi = "10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.016"
}

Milić, M., Timić, T., Joksimović, S., Biawat, P., Rallapalli, S., Divljaković, J., Radulović, T., Cook, J. M.,& Savić, M.. (2013). PWZ-029, an inverse agonist selective for alpha(5) GABA(A) receptors, improves object recognition, but not water-maze memory in normal and scopolamine-treated rats. in Behavioural Brain Research
Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam., 241, 206-213.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.016

Milić M, Timić T, Joksimović S, Biawat P, Rallapalli S, Divljaković J, Radulović T, Cook JM, Savić M. PWZ-029, an inverse agonist selective for alpha(5) GABA(A) receptors, improves object recognition, but not water-maze memory in normal and scopolamine-treated rats. in Behavioural Brain Research. 2013;241:206-213.
doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.016 .

Milić, Marija, Timić, Tamara, Joksimović, Srđan, Biawat, Poonam, Rallapalli, Sundari, Divljaković, Jovana, Radulović, Tamara, Cook, James M., Savić, Miroslav, "PWZ-029, an inverse agonist selective for alpha(5) GABA(A) receptors, improves object recognition, but not water-maze memory in normal and scopolamine-treated rats" in Behavioural Brain Research, 241 (2013):206-213,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.016 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Joksimović, Srđan
AU  - Varagić, Zdravko
AU  - Kovacević, Jovana
AU  - van Linn, Michael
AU  - Milić, Marija
AU  - Rallapalli, Sundari
AU  - Timić, Tamara
AU  - Sieghart, Werner
AU  - Cook, James M.
AU  - Savić, Miroslav
PY  - 2013
UR  - https://farfar.pharmacy.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1839
AB  - Synthesis of ligands inactive or with low activity at alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors has become the key concept for development of novel, more tolerable benzodiazepine (BZ)-like drugs. WYS8, a remarkably (105 times) alpha(1)-subtype selective partial positive modulator, may serve as a pharmacological tool for refining the role of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors in mediation of BZs' effects. Here, the effects of WYS8 on GABA-induced currents and on diazepam-induced potentiation of recombinant BZ-sensitive GABA(A) receptors were studied in more detail. In addition, the behavioral profile of WYS8 (0.2, 1, and 10 mg/kg i.p.), on its own and in combination with diazepam, was tested in the spontaneous locomotor activity, elevated plus maze, grip strength, rotarod, and pentylenetetrazole tests. WYS8, applied at an in vivo attainable concentration of 100 nM, reduced the stimulation of GABA currents by 1 mu M diazepam by 57 % at alpha(1)beta(3)gamma(2), but not at alpha(2)beta(3)gamma(2), alpha(3)beta(3)gamma(2), or alpha(5)beta(3)gamma(2) GABA(A) receptors. The administration of WYS8 alone induced negligible behavioral consequences. When combined with diazepam, WYS8 caused a reduction in sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant activity, as compared with this BZ alone, whereas ataxia was preserved, and the anxiolytic effect of 2 mg/kg diazepam was unmasked. Hence, a partial instead of full activation at alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors did not necessarily result in the attenuation of the effects assumed to be mediated by activation of these receptors, or in the full preservation of the effects mediated by activation of other GABA(A) receptors. Thus, the role of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors appears more complex than that proposed by genetic studies.
PB  - Springer, New York
T2  - QSAR & Combinatorial Science
T1  - Insights into functional pharmacology of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors: how much does partial activation at the benzodiazepine site matter?
VL  - 230
IS  - 1
SP  - 113
EP  - 123
DO  - 10.1007/s00213-013-3143-4
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Joksimović, Srđan and Varagić, Zdravko and Kovacević, Jovana and van Linn, Michael and Milić, Marija and Rallapalli, Sundari and Timić, Tamara and Sieghart, Werner and Cook, James M. and Savić, Miroslav",
year = "2013",
abstract = "Synthesis of ligands inactive or with low activity at alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors has become the key concept for development of novel, more tolerable benzodiazepine (BZ)-like drugs. WYS8, a remarkably (105 times) alpha(1)-subtype selective partial positive modulator, may serve as a pharmacological tool for refining the role of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors in mediation of BZs' effects. Here, the effects of WYS8 on GABA-induced currents and on diazepam-induced potentiation of recombinant BZ-sensitive GABA(A) receptors were studied in more detail. In addition, the behavioral profile of WYS8 (0.2, 1, and 10 mg/kg i.p.), on its own and in combination with diazepam, was tested in the spontaneous locomotor activity, elevated plus maze, grip strength, rotarod, and pentylenetetrazole tests. WYS8, applied at an in vivo attainable concentration of 100 nM, reduced the stimulation of GABA currents by 1 mu M diazepam by 57 % at alpha(1)beta(3)gamma(2), but not at alpha(2)beta(3)gamma(2), alpha(3)beta(3)gamma(2), or alpha(5)beta(3)gamma(2) GABA(A) receptors. The administration of WYS8 alone induced negligible behavioral consequences. When combined with diazepam, WYS8 caused a reduction in sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant activity, as compared with this BZ alone, whereas ataxia was preserved, and the anxiolytic effect of 2 mg/kg diazepam was unmasked. Hence, a partial instead of full activation at alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors did not necessarily result in the attenuation of the effects assumed to be mediated by activation of these receptors, or in the full preservation of the effects mediated by activation of other GABA(A) receptors. Thus, the role of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors appears more complex than that proposed by genetic studies.",
publisher = "Springer, New York",
journal = "QSAR & Combinatorial Science",
title = "Insights into functional pharmacology of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors: how much does partial activation at the benzodiazepine site matter?",
volume = "230",
number = "1",
pages = "113-123",
doi = "10.1007/s00213-013-3143-4"
}

Joksimović, S., Varagić, Z., Kovacević, J., van Linn, M., Milić, M., Rallapalli, S., Timić, T., Sieghart, W., Cook, J. M.,& Savić, M.. (2013). Insights into functional pharmacology of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors: how much does partial activation at the benzodiazepine site matter?. in QSAR & Combinatorial Science
Springer, New York., 230(1), 113-123.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-013-3143-4

Joksimović S, Varagić Z, Kovacević J, van Linn M, Milić M, Rallapalli S, Timić T, Sieghart W, Cook JM, Savić M. Insights into functional pharmacology of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors: how much does partial activation at the benzodiazepine site matter?. in QSAR & Combinatorial Science. 2013;230(1):113-123.
doi:10.1007/s00213-013-3143-4 .

Joksimović, Srđan, Varagić, Zdravko, Kovacević, Jovana, van Linn, Michael, Milić, Marija, Rallapalli, Sundari, Timić, Tamara, Sieghart, Werner, Cook, James M., Savić, Miroslav, "Insights into functional pharmacology of alpha(1) GABA(A) receptors: how much does partial activation at the benzodiazepine site matter?" in QSAR & Combinatorial Science, 230, no. 1 (2013):113-123,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-013-3143-4 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Savić, Miroslav
AU  - Majumder, Samarpan
AU  - Huang, Shengming
AU  - Edwankar, Rahul V.
AU  - Furtmueller, Roman
AU  - Joksimović, Srđan
AU  - Clayton, Terry
AU  - Ramerstorfer, Joachim
AU  - Milinković, Marija M.
AU  - Roth, Bryan L.
AU  - Sieghart, Werner
AU  - Cook, James M.
PY  - 2010
UR  - https://farfar.pharmacy.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1380
AB  - Over the last years, genetic studies have greatly improved Our knowledge on the receptor subtypes mediating various pharmacological effects of positive allosteric modulators at GABA(A) receptors. This stimulated the development of new benzodiazepine (BZ)-like ligands, especially those inactive/low-active at GABA(A) receptors containing the alpha(1) subunit, with the aim of generating more selective drugs. Hereby, the affinity and efficacy of four recently synthesized BZ site ligands: SH-053-2'N, SH-053-S-CH3-2'F, SH-053-R-CH3-2'F and JY-XHe-053 were assessed. They were also studied in behavioral tests of spontaneous locomotor activity, elevated plus maze, and water maze in rats, which are considered predictive of. respectively, the sedative, anxiolytic, and amnesic influence of BZs. The novel ligands had moderately low to low affinity and mild to partial agonistic efficacy at GABA(A) receptors containing the a, subunit, with variable, but more pronounced efficacy at other BZ-sensitive binding sites. While presumably alpha(1) receptor-mediated sedative effects of GABA(A) modulation were not fully eliminated with any of the ligands tested, only SH-053-2'N and SH-053-S-CH3-2'F, both dosed at 30 mg/kg, exerted anxiolytic effects. The lack of clear anxiolytic-like activity of JY-XHe-053, despite its efficacy at alpha(2)- and alpha(3)-GABA(A) receptors, may have been partly connected with its preferential affinity at alpha(5)-GABA(A) receptors coupled with weak agonist activity at alpha(1)-containing subtypes. The memory impairment in water-maze experiments, generally reported with BZ site agonists, was completely circumvented with all four ligands. The results suggest that a substantial amount of activity at a I GABA(A) receptors is needed for affecting spatial learning and memory impairments, while much weaker activity at alpha(1) and alpha(5)-GABA(A) receptors is sufficient for eliciting sedation.
PB  - Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford
T2  - Progress in Nutrition
T1  - Novel positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors: Do subtle differences in activity at alpha 1 plus alpha 5 versus alpha 2 plus alpha 3 subunits account for dissimilarities in behavioral effects in rats?
VL  - 34
IS  - 2
SP  - 376
EP  - 386
DO  - 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.01.004
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Savić, Miroslav and Majumder, Samarpan and Huang, Shengming and Edwankar, Rahul V. and Furtmueller, Roman and Joksimović, Srđan and Clayton, Terry and Ramerstorfer, Joachim and Milinković, Marija M. and Roth, Bryan L. and Sieghart, Werner and Cook, James M.",
year = "2010",
abstract = "Over the last years, genetic studies have greatly improved Our knowledge on the receptor subtypes mediating various pharmacological effects of positive allosteric modulators at GABA(A) receptors. This stimulated the development of new benzodiazepine (BZ)-like ligands, especially those inactive/low-active at GABA(A) receptors containing the alpha(1) subunit, with the aim of generating more selective drugs. Hereby, the affinity and efficacy of four recently synthesized BZ site ligands: SH-053-2'N, SH-053-S-CH3-2'F, SH-053-R-CH3-2'F and JY-XHe-053 were assessed. They were also studied in behavioral tests of spontaneous locomotor activity, elevated plus maze, and water maze in rats, which are considered predictive of. respectively, the sedative, anxiolytic, and amnesic influence of BZs. The novel ligands had moderately low to low affinity and mild to partial agonistic efficacy at GABA(A) receptors containing the a, subunit, with variable, but more pronounced efficacy at other BZ-sensitive binding sites. While presumably alpha(1) receptor-mediated sedative effects of GABA(A) modulation were not fully eliminated with any of the ligands tested, only SH-053-2'N and SH-053-S-CH3-2'F, both dosed at 30 mg/kg, exerted anxiolytic effects. The lack of clear anxiolytic-like activity of JY-XHe-053, despite its efficacy at alpha(2)- and alpha(3)-GABA(A) receptors, may have been partly connected with its preferential affinity at alpha(5)-GABA(A) receptors coupled with weak agonist activity at alpha(1)-containing subtypes. The memory impairment in water-maze experiments, generally reported with BZ site agonists, was completely circumvented with all four ligands. The results suggest that a substantial amount of activity at a I GABA(A) receptors is needed for affecting spatial learning and memory impairments, while much weaker activity at alpha(1) and alpha(5)-GABA(A) receptors is sufficient for eliciting sedation.",
publisher = "Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford",
journal = "Progress in Nutrition",
title = "Novel positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors: Do subtle differences in activity at alpha 1 plus alpha 5 versus alpha 2 plus alpha 3 subunits account for dissimilarities in behavioral effects in rats?",
volume = "34",
number = "2",
pages = "376-386",
doi = "10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.01.004"
}

Savić, M., Majumder, S., Huang, S., Edwankar, R. V., Furtmueller, R., Joksimović, S., Clayton, T., Ramerstorfer, J., Milinković, M. M., Roth, B. L., Sieghart, W.,& Cook, J. M.. (2010). Novel positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors: Do subtle differences in activity at alpha 1 plus alpha 5 versus alpha 2 plus alpha 3 subunits account for dissimilarities in behavioral effects in rats?. in Progress in Nutrition
Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford., 34(2), 376-386.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.01.004

Savić M, Majumder S, Huang S, Edwankar RV, Furtmueller R, Joksimović S, Clayton T, Ramerstorfer J, Milinković MM, Roth BL, Sieghart W, Cook JM. Novel positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors: Do subtle differences in activity at alpha 1 plus alpha 5 versus alpha 2 plus alpha 3 subunits account for dissimilarities in behavioral effects in rats?. in Progress in Nutrition. 2010;34(2):376-386.
doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.01.004 .

Savić, Miroslav, Majumder, Samarpan, Huang, Shengming, Edwankar, Rahul V., Furtmueller, Roman, Joksimović, Srđan, Clayton, Terry, Ramerstorfer, Joachim, Milinković, Marija M., Roth, Bryan L., Sieghart, Werner, Cook, James M., "Novel positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors: Do subtle differences in activity at alpha 1 plus alpha 5 versus alpha 2 plus alpha 3 subunits account for dissimilarities in behavioral effects in rats?" in Progress in Nutrition, 34, no. 2 (2010):376-386,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.01.004 . .