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Effect of Activation of the GLT-1 Transporter by a Beta-Lactam Antibiotic on Serotonin-Induced Scratching Behavior in Mice

2015; Springer Science+Business Media; Volume: 47; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/s11062-015-9494-1

1573-9007

Özgür Gündüz, Ruhan Deniz Topuz, Zeynep Gizem Todurga Seven, K. Duvan, Çetin Hakan Karadağ, Ahmet Ulugöl,

Pain Mechanisms and Treatments

Glutamate is believed to be the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the networks responsible for itch-related behavior. Beta-lactam antibiotics were shown to exert neuroprotective effects by increasing expression of the glutamate transporter GLT-1. We observed whether repeated administration of the beta-lactam antibiotic ceftriaxone suppresses serotonin-induced itch-related behavior (similarly to the effect of this agent on pain transmission) in mice. Chronic, but not acute, ceftriaxone introductions reduced the number of serotonin-induced scratches; dihydrokainic acid, a selective GLT-1 transporter inhibitor, partly but significantly abolished this effect of ceftriaxone. Our findings suggest that GLT-1 activation by beta-lactam antibiotics looks promising for the treatment of chronic itch.