The psychopharmacology of tachykinin NK-3 receptors in laboratory animals.
The present article reviews the studies so far published on the psychopharmacological effects mediated by tachykinin NK-3 receptors in laboratory animals. Central administration of NK-3 receptor agonists has been reported to attenuate alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats and to evoke conditioned place preference. These findings suggest that NK-3 receptors may affect reward processes to drugs of abuse. Anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects have been previously reported for NK-1 receptor antagonists, and anxiolytic-like effects for NK-2 receptor antagonists. More recently, it has been shown that NK-3 receptor agonists have anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects in mice and rats, while an NK-3 receptor antagonist was reported to be anxiogenic in mice. These findings indicate that different TK receptor subtypes may be involved in anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects in laboratory animals and raise interest for the possible role of NK-3 receptors in the control of anxiety and depression in man.
Massi
M
M
Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, Italy. massi@cambio.unicam.it
Panocka
I
I
de Caro
G
G
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia; D051379:Mice; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3 / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3