Restorative effect of NitroSynapsin on synaptic plasticity in an animal model of depression

• Published in: Neuropharmacology 2023-12, Vol.241, p.109729-109729, Article 109729
• Main Authors: Tse, Wing Sze, Pochwat, Bartłomiej, Szewczyk, Bernadeta, Misztak, Paulina, Bobula, Bartosz, Tokarski, Krzysztof, Worch, Remigiusz, Czarnota-Bojarska, Marta, Lipton, Stuart A., Zaręba-Kozioł, Monika, Bijata, Monika, Wlodarczyk, Jakub
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal model of depression; Chronic restraint stress; Dendritic spines; NitroSynapsin; NMDA; Synaptic plasticity
• ISSN: 0028-3908; 1873-7064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109729

In the search for new options for the pharmacological treatment of major depressive disorder, compounds with a rapid onset of action and high efficacy but lacking a psychotomimetic effect are of particular interest. In the present study, we evaluated the antidepressant potential of NitroSynapsin (NS) at behavioural, structural, and functional levels. NS is a memantine derivative and a dual allosteric N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) antagonist using targeted delivery by the aminoadamantane of a warhead nitro group to inhibitory redox sites on the NMDAR. In a chronic restraint stress (CRS) mouse model of depression, five doses of NS administered on three consecutive days evoked antidepressant-like activity in the chronically stressed male C57BL/6J mice, reversing CRS-induced behavioural disturbances in sucrose preference and tail suspension tests. CRS-induced changes in morphology and density of dendritic spines in cerebrocortical neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were also reversed by NS. Moreover, CRS-induced reduction in long-term potentiation (LTP) in the mPFC was found to be prevented by NS based on the electrophysiological recordings. Our study showed that NS restores structural and functional synaptic plasticity and reduces depressive behaviour to the level found in naïve animals. These results preliminarily revealed an antidepressant-like potency of NS. •Chronic restraint stress (CRS) induces anhedonia and despair in male C57BL/6J mice.•NitroSynapsin (NS) reduces depressive behaviour to the level found in naïve animals.•NS restores CRS-induded structural plasticity changes in medial prefrontal cortex.•NS restores CRS-induded reduction in long-term potentiation in the mPFC.