title: Striatal microinjections of interleukin-2 and rat behaviour in the elevated plus-maze.
abstract: We showed that the relationship between cytokine mRNA in the rat brain and elevated plus-maze behaviour is site- (striatum, prefrontal cortex), and cytokine-specific (interleukin-2). Here, we investigated whether a striatal microinjection of interleukin-2 (1, 10, 25 ng) affects elevated plus-maze behaviour. Analyses showed no acute effects of IL-2 on open arm time, whereas dose-dependent differences in rearing activity, and open arm entries became apparent between IL-2 doses. Twenty-four hours later, a previous dose of 25 ng IL-2 showed a trend for more open arm time compared to vehicle. These behavioural changes are discussed in relation to anxiety-relevant and exploratory behaviour, and possible neurochemical mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Philipps-University Marburg, Faculty of Psychology, Section for Experimental and Biological Psychology, Experimental and Physiological Psychology Unit, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany. pawlak@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Cornelius R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pawlak
authors.forename: Rainer K W
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Schwarting
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2