Effects of Dextromethorphan on Neurite Outgrowth and Marble Burying Behavior

<p>Compulsive disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are often treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs typically express many pharmacological effects through inhibiting serotonin (5-HT) transporters; however, due to delayed and inadequate treatment effects, other treatment methods should be pursued. Alternative drug treatments acting on glutamate, NMDA receptors, and sigma-1, instead of serotonin, may be effective in treating OCD. One drug in particular, dextromethorphan (DM), provides antidepressant-like effects by possibly inhibiting glutamate and activating sigma-1 receptors. Common preclinical approaches for screening experimental OCD drugs include the marble-burying test (MBT) for compulsive behavior, in addition to the assessment of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Therefore, to test the role of DM, a sigma-1 compound, glutamate NMDA antagonist, and DM metabolite-dextrorphan were used in both MBT and a neurite outgrowth assay. Marble burying data revealed a significant decrease in marbles buried upon both high and low doses of fluvoxamine administration. High doses of DM and DXT resulted in a significant decrease in marbles buried. A significant decrease in pathlength was not observed with each compound indicating therapeutic effects. The percentage of total cells and neurites did not display significant effects. Significant reversal effects with BD-1047 were not observed in both models. Therefore, sigma-1 should be further investigated to further understand receptor function.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychological Science

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Dalton, Alexia

Contributors dc:contributor

• Adam Prus

• Dextromethorphan
• marble burying
• sigma-1
• pc-12
• Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/845

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1828