Intrahypothalamic administration of modafinil increases expression of MAP-kinase in hypothalamus and pons in rats

Alwin Poot-Aké, Stephanie Mijangos-Moreno, Danielle Manjarrez-Martin, Ramsés Jiménez-Moreno, Pedro R. Aquino-Hernández, Elda Pacheco-Pantoja, Oscar Arias-Carrión, Andrea Sarro-Ramírez, Gloria Arankowsky-Sandoval, Eric Murillo-Rodríguez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Modafinil (MOD) it has to be considered as a wake-inducing drug to treat sleep disorders such as excessive sleepiness in narcolepsy, shift-work disorder, and obstructive/sleep apnea syndrome. Current evidence suggests that MOD induces waking involving the dopamine D1 receptor. However, little is known regarding the molecular elements linked in the wake-promoting actions of MOD. Since the D1 receptor activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-K) cascade, it raises the interesting possibility that effects of MOD would depend upon the activation of MAP-K. Here we tested the expression of MAP-K in hypothalamus as well as pons after the microinjection of MOD (10 or 20μg/1μL) in rats into anterior hypothalamus, a wake-inducing brain area. Intrahypothalamic injections of MOD promoted MAP-K phosphorylation in hypothalamus and pons. Taken together, these results suggest that the wake-inducing compound MOD promotes the MAP-K phosphorylation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)463-467
Number of pages5
JournalCNS and Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2015

Keywords

  • Dopamine
  • Hypothalamus
  • Modafinil
  • Narcolepsy
  • Pons
  • Protein
  • Rat
  • Wakefulness
  • Western blot

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