title: Attenuated stress-induced catecholamine release in mice lacking the vasopressin V1b receptor.
abstract: Vasopressin V(1b) receptor is specifically expressed in the pituitary and mediates adrenocorticotropin release, thereby regulating stress responses via its corticotropin releasing factor-like action. In the present study we examined catecholamine release in response to two types of stress in mice lacking the V(1b) receptor gene (V(1b)R(-/-) mice) vs. wild-type mice. There were no significant differences in the basal plasma levels of catecholamines between the two genotypes. In response to stress induced by forced swimming, norepinephrine (NE), but not epinephrine (E) or dopamine (DA), was increased in wild-type mice, whereas the increases in NE and DA were not observed in V(1b)R(-/-) mice. In wild-type mice, E, but not NE or DA, was increased in response to social isolation stress, whereas the increase in E was not observed in V(1b)R(-/-) mice. These results suggest that the V(1b) receptor regulates stress-induced catecholamine release. Because it has been suggested that arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is related to the development of depression, we also evaluated immobility time in the forced swimming test, and we found no significant change in V(1b)R(-/-) mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that, in addition to the previously elucidated effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, vasopressin activity via V(1b) receptors regulates stress-induced catecholamine release.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Pharmacological and Therapeutical Development, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Ltd., 463-10, Kagasuno, Kawauchi-cho, Tokushima 771-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Sakiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Toyoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Katsura
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tottori
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uwahodo
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: Meiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanoue
authors.forename: Gozoh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D012934:Social Isolation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine