title: Neuropeptide Y attenuates the effect of locus coeruleus denervation by DSP-4 treatment on social behaviour in the rat.
abstract: Noradrenaline (NA) has been implicated in both increase and reduction of anxiety. Selective destruction of nerve endings of the locus coeruleus projections by DSP-4 has been shown to reduce active behaviour in novel situations by enhancing anxiety. In the present study, DSP-4 (50 mg/kg) treatment reduced locomotor activity and time spent in social interaction in rats placed into a novel environment together with an unfamiliar rat, indicating an anxiogenic-like effect. The effect of DSP-4 on time spent in social interaction was completely antagonized by intracerebroventricular administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) (1 microg) which had no effect of its own on this measure. The present study thus supports the idea that DSP-4 pretreatment is anxiogenic in novel situations and suggests a functional relationship of NA- and NPY-using neural mechanisms in the regulation of social behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kask
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oreland
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003714:Denervation; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D001596:Benzylamines; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009498:Neurotoxins; C012102:DSP 4