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Effects of RFamide‐Related Peptide (RFRP)‐1 and RFRP‐3 on Oxytocin Release and Anxiety‐Related Behaviour in Rats
Author(s) -
Kaewwongse Maroot,
Takayanagi Yuki,
Onaka Tatsushi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.02077.x
Subject(s) - oxytocin , hypothalamus , medicine , endocrinology , neuropeptide , supraoptic nucleus , receptor , biology , chemistry
RFamide‐related peptides (RFRP‐1 and RFRP‐3) are localised in neurones of the dorsomedial hypothalamus in rats. The dorsomedial hypothalamus plays an essential role in neuroendocrine and behavioural stress responses. In the present study, we examined the role of RFRP in the control of neuroendocrine and behavioural responses in rats. Stressful stimuli increased expression of Fos protein in RFRP‐immunoreactive neurones of the dorsomedial hypothalamus, suggesting that stressful stimuli activate RFRP neurones. Intracerebroventricular injection of RFRPs increased the expression of Fos protein in oxytocin neurones in the hypothalamus and plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and oxytocin. The hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei expressed mRNA of GPR147, the putative RFRP receptor, and application of RFRPs to isolated supraoptic nuclei facilitated oxytocin release, suggesting that RFRPs activate oxytocin neurones directly. Furthermore, the administration of RFRPs induced anxiety‐related behaviour in rats in open‐field tests. All these data taken together suggest that RFRPs play a role in the control of neuroendocrine and behavioural stress responses in rats.