Peptide Selank Enhances the Effect of Diazepam in Reducing Anxiety in Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Conditions in Rats

Abstract

It was shown that the anxiolytic effect of Selank is comparable to that of classical benzodiazepine drugs and that the basis of their mechanism of action may be similar. These data suggest that the presence of Selank may change the action of classical benzodiazepine drugs. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the anxiolytic activity of Selank and diazepam in rats both under conditions of unpredictable chronic mild stress and in its absence, after the individual and combined administration of these compounds using the elevated plus maze test. We found that, even in the absence of chronic stress, the administration of a course of test substances changed anxiety indicators toward their deterioration, but the changes after the administration of a course of Selank were less pronounced. In conditions of chronic stress, anxiety indicator values after the simultaneous use of diazepam and Selank did not differ from the respective values observed before chronic stress exposure. The data obtained indicate that the individual administration of Selank was the most effective in reducing elevated levels of anxiety, induced by the administration of a course of test substances, whereas the combination of diazepam with Selank was the most effective in reducing anxiety in unpredictable chronic mild stress conditions.

Effect of chronic unpredictable stress on mice with developmental under-expression of the Ahi1 gene: behavioral manifestations and neurobiological correlates

“…In an attempt to better position their ostensible stress hyporesponsiveness in its relevant (patho)physiological context (i.e., resilience as opposed to cognitive-emotional deficit), we exposed Ahi1+/− mice to a protocol of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) that consisted of various psychological stressors administered in random order over a period of 9 weeks. CUS paradigms are based on the chronic, mild stress protocol of Willner et al 20 that has been shown to induce anhedonia (e.g., 21 , 22 ) along with decreased hippocampal neurogenesis 23 , 24 . With respect to anxiety, data are less consistent.…”

Sedative‐Hypnotic Agents That Impact Gamma‐Aminobutyric Acid Receptors: Focus on Flunitrazepam, Gamma‐Hydroxybutyric Acid, Phenibut, and Selank

“…Following administration of selank and GABA in frontal cortex nerve cells of rats, similar gene expressions occurred, and selank further increased activity of inhibitory neurons reliant on GABA 115,116 . Due to these peptide modulation abilities, exposure to selank is thought to influence binding of GABA to GABA A receptors 117 . This unique mechanism has been hypothesized to cause pronounced anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antiaggression effects.…”

The occurrence of putative cognitive enhancing research peptides in seized pharmaceutical preparations: An incentive for controlling agencies to prepare for future encounters of the kind

“…A similar effect was also attributed to Semax, another synthetic heptapeptide, consisting of a fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH4–7) C‐terminally fused to the tripeptide PGP. Additionally, immunomodulatory and neuropsychotropic effects have also been ascribed to these molecules . Currently and to the best of our knowledge, no clinical studies with these peptides have been terminated or were given a positive advice by the European Medicines Agency.…”

“…Additionally, immunomodulatory and neuropsychotropic effects have also been ascribed to these molecules. 7,10,11 Currently and to the best of our knowledge, no clinical studies with these peptides have been terminated or were given a positive advice by the European Medicines Agency. Therefore, the use of these research peptides on humans has not been approved by the European Union and can therefore be considered illegal.…”