Effects of quetiapine on behavioral changes and expression of myelin proteins in a chronic alcohol dependence rat model

Mechanism of cognitive impairment and white matter damage in the MK-801 mice model of schizophrenia treated with quetiapine

Schizophrenia has been linked to cognitive impairment and white matter damage in a growing number of studies this year. In this study, we used the MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like mice model to investigate the effects of quetiapine on behavioral changes and myelin loss in the model mice. The subjects selected for this study were C57B6/J male mice, MK-801 (1 mg/kg/d intraperitoneal injection) modeling for 1 week and quetiapine (10 mg/kg/d intraperitoneal injection) treatment for 2 weeks. Behavioral tests were then performed using the three-chamber paradigm test and the Y maze test. Moreover, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were conducted to investigate the changes in oligodendrocyte spectrum markers. In addition, we performed some mechanism-related proteins by western blot. Quetiapine ameliorated cognitive impairment and cerebral white matter damage in MK-801 model mice, and the mechanism may be related to the PI3K/AKT pathways. The present study suggests that quetiapine has a possible mechanism for treating cognitive impairment and white matter damage caused by schizophrenia.

Quetiapine Fumarate: A Review of Analytical Methods

Atypical antipsychotics are newer second-generation antipsychotics with weak dopamine type 2 blocking but potent 5-HT2 antagonistic activity. They are considered first-line treatments for schizophrenia and gradually replace typical antipsychotics. Extrapyramidal side effects are minimal, and they tend to improve impaired cognitive function in psychotics. Quetiapine fumarate is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, mania and depression in people with bipolar disorder combined with other drugs or alone. Quetiapine was developed in 1985 and approved for medical use in the USA in 1997. Thorough computer-aided literature, surveys revealed that numerous analytical methods were reported over the years. The present study reviews analytical methods with their validation parameters published during the last 22 years (1999-2021) either as a single entity or combination in dosage form, and determination from biological samples. Novel strategies for increasing separation quality, such as QbD analysis and green spectroscopy, were discovered during the evaluation, and this review can be utilized for further research reference.

A Review of the Characteristics of Clinical Trials and Potential Medications for Alcohol Dependence: Data Analysis from ClinicalTrials.gov

Objective. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of clinical trials related to alcohol dependence that are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Methods. All ClinicalTrials.gov trials registered up to 1 January 2023 were examined, focusing on trials that involved alcohol dependence. All 1295 trials were summarized by presenting their characteristics and results and reviewed most intervention drugs used in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Results. The study analysis identified a total of 1295 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov that were focused on alcohol dependence. Of these, 766 trials had been completed, representing 59.15% of the total, while 230 trials were currently recruiting participants, accounting for 17.76% of the total. None of the trials had yet been approved for marketing. The majority of the studies included in this analysis were interventional studies (1145 trials, or 88.41%), which accounted for most of the patients enrolled in the trials. In contrast, observational studies represented only a small portion of the trials (150 studies, or 11.58%) and involved a smaller number of patients. In terms of geographic distribution, the majority of registered studies were located in North America (876 studies, or 67.64%), while only a small number of studies were registered in South America (7 studies, or 0.54%). Conclusions. The purpose of this review is to provide a basis for the treatment of alcohol dependence and prevention of its onset through an overview of clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. It also offers essential information for future research to guide future studies.

Quetiapine attenuates the acquisition of morphine-induced conditioned place preference and reduces ERK phosphorylation in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex

Background: Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that antagonizes dopamine and serotonin receptors. It has been suggested that quetiapine can be used to treat substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder. Opioids modulate dopaminergic functions associated with conditioned reinforcement and these effects can be measured via the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Opioids' unconditioned effects are regulated by several proteins, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP-responsive element-binding (CREB).Objective: To assess the effect of quetiapine on morphine-induced CPP and motor activity levels, and on the levels of ERK and CREB proteins in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.Methods: 42 male rats were exposed to a CPP protocol, in which they underwent a conditioning paradigm with saline, quetiapine (40 mg/kg), morphine (10 mg/kg), morphine plus quetiapine (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg), or morphine plus memantine (7.5 mg/kg, a positive control drug) (n = 6 per group). The rats were tested for CPP and exploratory activity. Levels of ERK and CREB proteins in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex were also measured.Results: Quetiapine co-administered with morphine inhibited morphine-induced CPP [F (6, 70) = 11.67, p < .001] and morphine's effects on motor activity (p < .001). Morphine enhanced ERK phosphorylation in the hippocampus (p < .001) and cerebral cortex (p < .001), an effect inhibited by quetiapine.Conclusion: Quetiapine attenuates morphine-induced CPP and locomotion and these effects are associated with a reduction of ERK phosphorylation in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These results suggest that quetiapine should be further explored as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder.