Administration of antisense DNA for ghrelin causes an antidepressant and anxiolytic response in rats.
BACKGROUND
Ghrelin is a peptide of 28 amino acids found in mammals that increases the release of growth hormone, food intake, and body weight.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the relationship between ghrelin and the states of anxiety and depression by giving rats either antisense DNA for ghrelin, scrambled DNA or vehicle into the lateral ventricle of rats.


RESULTS
In forced swimming tests, rats that received antisense DNA decreased the length of time that they were immobile in the water. Ghrelin antisense oligonucleotides produced an anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus maze test, black and white test, or conditioned fear tests. Treatment with antisense DNA for ghrelin significantly decreased rat body weight. No significant effect on general locomotor activity was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that administration of antisense DNA for ghrelin causes an antidepressant and anxiolytic response in rats.
Kanehisa
Masayuki
M
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Hasama-Machi, Oita, 879-5593, Japan.
Akiyoshi
Jotaro
J
Kitaichi
Tomoko
T
Matsushita
Hirotaka
H
Tanaka
Etsuhiro
E
Kodama
Kensuke
K
Hanada
Hiroaki
H
Isogawa
Koichi
K
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001835:Body Weight; D003118:Color Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D017931:DNA Primers; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004597:Electroshock; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D054439:Ghrelin; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D016373:DNA, Antisense; D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones