title: Effects of central vasopressin administration to infant rats.
abstract: The neurohypophyseal peptide hormone arginine-vasopressin functions as a neuropeptide in several brain areas in addition to its role as a posterior pituitary hormone. Several studies indicate that arginine-vasopressin and arginine-vasopressin receptors appear early in the infant rat brain. To determine if arginine-vasopressin receptors in the infant were responsive to exogenous peptides, we compared the behavioral effects of central or peripheral administration of arginine-vasopressin, arginine vasotocin, the oxytocin precursor oxytocin-Gly-Lys-Arg, and arginine-vasopressin receptor antagonists in socially isolated rat pups. Central administration of arginine-vasopressin decreased the number of rat pup ultrasonic vocalizations, reduced locomotor activity and decreased the latency to express a response to negative geotaxis. Temperature was also reduced at all doses tested. Co-administration of arginine-vasopressin and receptor antagonists suggested that changes in vocal behavior were mediated by the V1 receptor subtype. Changes in core temperature appeared to be mediated by a V2 receptor subtype. Peripheral arginine-vasopressin administration increased calling and decreased core body temperature. Neither effect was blocked by central receptor antagonist administration. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that arginine-vasopressin receptors in the infant rat brain are functional.
authors: Unit Develop Biopsych, NIMH, NIHAC, Poolesville, MD 20837.
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Winslow
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Insel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012934:Social Isolation; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; C060257:hydrin 1; D014668:Vasotocin