title: Role of brain neuroactive steroids in the functional interplay between the GABA(A) and the NPY-Y1 receptor mediated signals in the amygdala.
abstract: Various lines of evidence suggest a functional interaction between GABA(A) and Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-Y(1) receptor (Y(1)R) mediated transmissions in various brain regions, which can be important in the regulation of sedation, feeding, anxious behaviour and neuronal excitability. By using a transgenic mouse model carrying the murine Y(1)R gene promoter fused to the lacZ reporter gene (Y(1)R/LacZ mice), we showed that prolonged pharmacologically or physiologically induced changes in the cerebrocortical concentrations of the neuroactive steroids 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan- 20-one (3alpha,5alpha TH PROG) and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (3alpha,5alpha TH DOC) increases Y(1)R/LacZ transgene expression in the central and medial amygdala, an effect similar to that induced by long-term treatment with positive modulators of the GABA(A) receptor complex (diazepam or abecarnil). We also demonstrated that fluctuations in the cerebrocortical concentrations of 3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG and 3alpha,5alpha TH DOC during voluntary ethanol consumption and ethanol withdrawal induces a marked increase in Y(1)R gene expression that becomes apparent 48 h after withdrawal. These data provide evidence that neuroactive steroids may play an important role in the functional interaction between the GABA(A) receptor and NPY-Y(1)R mediated pathways in the amygdala, which might represent an important regulatory mechanism for modulation of several functions, including ethanol withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Anatomia, Farmacologia e Medicina Legale, Sezione di Farmacologia, Via Pietro Giuria 13, 10125, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy. carola.eva@unito.it
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eva
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oberto
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biggio
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000502:physiology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; C097212:neuropeptide Y-Y1 receptor