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Active sites of chlordiazepoxide (CP)‐induced anxiolysis in the mouse brain: A preliminary microinfusion mapping study
Author(s) -
Metz Hillery C,
Doss Jason C,
Heckert Rick W,
Quock Daniel G,
Churchill Lynn,
Quock Raymond M
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a235-b
Subject(s) - microinjection , amygdala , claustrum , ketamine , central nervous system , chlordiazepoxide , neuroscience , microinjections , saline , chemistry , elevated plus maze , insular cortex , anxiolytic , medicine , endocrinology , anesthesia , biology , diazepam , nucleus , anxiety , receptor , psychiatry
This study was conducted to localize sites of action of CP through selective microinjection into specific, discrete regions of the mouse brain and correlate these sites with demonstration of anxiolytic‐like activity in the elevated plus maze. Male NIH Swiss mice (20–32 g) were anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine and were implanted with unilateral 27‐G stainless steel cannulae into sites within and surrounding the claustrum/insular cortex and the amygdala. Following one week of recovery, mice were microinfused with 8 μg CP in a volume of 0.1 μl saline/5 min or 0.3 μl/15 min. After an interval of 30 min, the mice were tested on the elevated plus maze and observed for the amount of time and the number of entries on open arms of the plus maze. Following behavioral testing, intracerebral microinjection sites were histologically confirmed. While preliminary, our results indicate that active sites for CP‐induced anxiolysis might reside in the central or posterodorsal regions of the medial amygdala as well as the claustrum/insular cortex. These loci are particularly intriguing because of their connections with the central autonomic nervous system, which functions in response to stress (Saper, Ann Rev Neurosci 25:433–469, 2002). These results suggest that the signaling pathway that is activated by CP includes part of the central autonomic nervous system. (Supported in part by State of Washington Initiative Measure No. 171).