The NK-3 tachykinin receptor agonist senktide elicits 5-HT-mediated behaviour following central or peripheral administration in mice and rats.
The behavioural effects of the selective NK-3 tachykinin receptor agonist senktide were studied following intracisternal and subcutaneous administration in rodents. Behavioural manifestations of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic stimulation, including head twitches (mice), wet dog shakes (rats), forepaw treading, flat body posture, hindlimb splaying and Straub tail, were seen following the intracisternal (0.01-1.2 nmol) or subcutaneous (0.1-2.4 mumol kg-1) administration of senktide in both species. We conclude that stimulation of NK-3 receptors stimulates 5-hydroxytryptaminergic pathways in rodent brain, and that senktide may cross the blood-brain barrier in biologically significant amounts.
Stoessl
A J
AJ
Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Neuroscience Research Centre, Harlow, Essex.
Dourish
C T
CT
Iversen
S D
SD
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects*; D018039:Receptors, Tachykinin; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D018039:Receptors, Tachykinin; C054724:senktide; D012701:Serotonin; D013373:Substance P