Int. J. Dev. Biol. 56: 193 - 196 (2012)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.113486op

Vol 56, Issue 1-2-3

Special Issue: The Planaria Model System

Planarians in pharmacology: parthenolide is a specific behavioral antagonist of cocaine in the planarian Girardia tigrina

Published: 9 March 2012

Oné R. Pagán*^,1, Debra Baker¹, Sean Deats², Erica Montgomery¹, Matthew Tenaglia¹, Clinita Randolph¹, Dharini Kotturu¹, Christopher Tallarida³, Daniel Bach¹, Galia Wilk¹, Scott Rawls⁴ and Robert B. Raffa³

¹Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, ²Department of Psychology, West Chester University, West Chester, ³Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia and ⁴Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Abstract

Planarians are traditional animal models in developmental and regeneration biology. Recently, these organisms are arising as vertebrate-relevant animal models in neuropharmacology. Using an adaptation of published behavioral protocols, we have described the alleviation of cocaine-induced planarian seizure-like movements (pSLM) by a naturally-occurring sesquiterpene lactone, parthenolide. Interestingly, parthenolide does not prevent the expression of pSLM induced by amphetamines; in vertebrates, amphetamines interact with the same protein target as cocaine. Parthenolide is also unable to prevent pSLM elicited by the cholinergic com-pounds nicotine and cytisine or by the glutamatergic agents L- or D- glutamic acid or NMDA. Thus, we conclude that parthenolide is a specific anti-cocaine agent in this experimental organism.

Keywords

planaria, parthenolide, cocaine, amphetamine, seizures, behavior