A genotype-dependent hippocampal dynorphinergic mechanism controls mouse exploration.
Following microinjections with two dilutions of anti-dynorphin B antiserum into the hippocampal CA3 region, adult male mice from the inbred strains DBA/2 and C57BL/6 were individually tested for various exploratory behaviors in a novel environment and compared to preimmune serum control animals. Treatment augmented vertically-oriented exploratory acts in strain DBA/2 and reduced the scores in strain C57BL/6 so that strain differences originally present between the controls were reversed or eliminated after antiserum. These opposite effects indicate that a hippocampal dynorphinergic mechanism is involved in the regulation of novelty-induced behavior in mice and that its modulatory function depends on the genotype. It is concluded that DBA/2 animals exposed to novelty, as compared to C57BL/6, are characterized by an over-release of hippocampal dynorphin B which is neutralized in part by small amounts of antibody.
D000818:Animals; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D005838:Genotype; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D013045:Species Specificity
D004399:Dynorphins