Premium
Anxiolytic effect of a CRH receptor antagonist in the dorsal periaqueductal gray
Author(s) -
Martins Aline P.,
Marras Raquel A.,
Guimarães Francisco S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6394(2000)12:2<99::aid-da6>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - anxiogenic , periaqueductal gray , microinjection , antagonist , corticotropin releasing hormone , elevated plus maze , anxiolytic , medicine , endocrinology , receptor antagonist , chemistry , receptor , psychology , anxiety , central nervous system , midbrain , psychiatry
Corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) is anxiogenic when microinjected into the dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG). Microinjection of alpha‐helical‐CRH9‐41 (0.5 μg), a CRH receptor antagonist, however, failed to change anxiety levels. The objective of this study was to verify if this compound has any effect in the anxiogenic behavior of rats submitted to 4 hr of restraint stress 24 hr before the test in an elevated plus maze. Results showed that stressed rats had a decreased exploration of open arms without changing the number of enclosed arm entries. The stress effect was reversed by intra‐DPAG injection of alpha‐helical‐CRH9‐41 (0.5 μg). These results suggest that the anxiogenic behavior of rats previously stressed by forced immobilization might involve facilitation of CRH‐mediated neurotransmission in the DPAG. Depression and Anxiety 12:99–101, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.