Elevated anxiety-like behavior following ethanol exposure in mutant mice lacking neuropeptide Y (NPY).
BACKGROUND
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neuromodulator with anxiolytic properties. Recent evidence suggests that NPY modulates neurobiological responses to ethanol. Because withdrawal from ethanol is associated with elevated anxiety-like behavior, and because central NPY modulates anxiety, we assessed anxiety-like behavior in mutant mice lacking normal production of NPY (NPY-/-) and in normal wild-type mice (NPY+/+) 6h after removal of a liquid diet containing 4.5% ethanol.


METHODS
NPY-/- and NPY+/+ mice on a pure 129/SvEv genetic background were given 6 days of access to a liquid ethanol diet (ED) or control diet (CD). Six hours before elevated plus maze (EPM) testing, ED was replaced with CD in the ethanol-withdrawn group.


RESULTS
Ethanol-withdrawn NPY-/- mice showed significantly less open arm time and total proportion of time spent in the open arm of the EPM relative to ethanol-withdrawn NPY+/+ mice and when compared to NPY-/- and NPY+/+ mice that had access to the CD. On the other hand, ethanol-withdrawn NPY+/+ mice did not show altered EPM behavior relative to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Central NPY is protective against anxiety-like behavior stemming from exposure to and/or withdrawal from ethanol. Targets aimed at NPY receptors may be useful compounds for treating anxiety associated with ethanol dependence.
Sparta
Dennis R
DR
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA.
Fee
Jon R
JR
Knapp
Darin J
DJ
Breese
George R
GR
Thiele
Todd E
TE
D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D000431:Ethanol