Anxiolytic effect of hepatocyte growth factor infused into rat brain.
BACKGROUND
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has the capacity to selectively direct thalamocortical projections into an intermediate target, the pallidum, and eventually to their final cortical destination. HGF may have a role in the mediation of anxiety. Very little is known about other central behavioral effects of HGF.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine what effect HGF has on anxiety in rats.


METHODS
HGF was infused at a constant rate into cerebral lateral ventricles and its effect on anxiety in rats was monitored.


RESULTS
In the elevated plus maze test and the black and white box test, HGF administration caused all indicators of anxiety to increase. No significant effect on general locomotor activity was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
HGF infusion into the brain produces an anxiolytic effect.
Isogawa
Koichi
K
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
Akiyoshi
Jotaro
J
Kodama
Kensuke
K
Matsushita
Hirotaka
H
Tsutsumi
Takashi
T
Funakoshi
Hiroshi
H
Nakamura
Toshikazu
T
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor