title: Anxiolytic-like effect of the selective neuropeptide Y Y2 receptor antagonist BIIE0246 in the elevated plus-maze.
abstract: The involvement of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the pathophysiology of mood disorders has been suggested by clinical and preclinical evidence. NPY Y1 and Y2 receptors have been proposed to mediate the NPY modulation of stress responses and anxiety related behaviors. To further investigate the role of Y2 receptors in anxiety we studied the effect of BIIE0246, a selective Y2 receptor antagonist, in the elevated plus-maze test. Rats treated with 1.0 nmol BIIE0246 showed an increase in the time spent on the open arm of the maze. In addition, to study the effects of the Y2 antagonism on NPY protein level, NPY-like immunoreactivity was measured in different brain regions following treatment with BIIE0246, but no statistically significant effects were observed. These results suggest that BIIE0246 has an anxiolytic-like profile in the elevated plus-maze.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Psychiatry CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline Medicine Research Centre, via Fleming 4, 37100 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bacchi
authors.forename: Aleksander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mathé
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stasi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arban
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerrard
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caberlotto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001552:Benzazepines; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; C095889:neuropeptide Y2 receptor; D001120:Arginine; C403256:BIIE 0246