Anxiety-induced antinociception in mice: effects of systemic and intra-amygdala administration of 8-OH-DPAT and midazolam.
BACKGROUND
Mice exhibit antinociception after a single experience in the elevated plus maze (EPM), an animal model of anxiety.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the mechanisms involved in this form of anxiety-induced antinociception.


METHODS
Nociception was evaluated by means of the writhing test in mice confined either to the open or enclosed arms of the EPM. The effects of systemic (naloxone, midazolam and 8-OH-DPAT) or intra-amygdala (8-OH-DPAT, NAN-190 and midazolam) drug infusions were investigated in mice previously treated i.p. with 0.6% acetic acid, an algic stimulus that induces abdominal contortions. The effects of these drugs on conventional measures of anxiety (% entries and % time in open arms) in a standard EPM test were also independently investigated.


RESULTS
Open-arm confinement resulted in a high-magnitude antinociception (minimum 85%, maximum 450%) compared with enclosed arm confinement. The opiate antagonist naloxone (1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) neither blocked this open arm-induced antinociception (OAIA) nor modified indices of anxiety in EPM. Administration of midazolam (0.5-2 mg/kg, s.c.) increased OAIA and produced antinociception in enclosed confined animals, as well as attenuating anxiety in the EPM. The 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.05-1 mg/kg, s.c.) had biphasic effects on OAIA, antagonising the response at the lowest dose and intensifying it at the highest dose. In addition, low doses of this agent reduced anxiety in the EPM. Although bilateral injections of 8-OH-DPAT (5.6 nmol/0.4 microl) or NAN-190 (5.6 nmol and 10 nmol/0.4 microl) into the amygdala did not alter OAIA, increased anxiety was observed in the EPM. In contrast, intra-amygdala administration of midazolam (10 nmol and 30 nmol/0.4 microl) blocked both OAIA and anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
These results with systemic and intracerebral drug infusion suggest that 5-HT(1A) receptors localised in the amygdala are not involved in the pain inhibitory processes that are "recruited" during aversive situations. However, activation of these receptors does phasically increase anxiety. Although the intrinsic antinociceptive properties of systemically administered midazolam confounded interpretation of its effects on OAIA, intra-amygdala injections of this compound suggest that benzodiazepine receptors in this brain region modulate both the antinociceptive and behavioural (anxiety) responses to the EPM.
Laboratório de Farmacologia, PANT, Fac. Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara/UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil. souzarn@fcfar.unesp.br
R L
RL
Nunes-de-Souza
A
A
Canto-de-Souza
M
M
da-Costa
R V
RV
Fornari
F G
FG
Graeff
I R
IR
Pelá
D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D000698:Analgesia / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008845:Microinjections; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010879:Piperazines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C058895:1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-(2-phthalimido)butyl)piperazine; D009270:Naloxone; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D008874:Midazolam