Nesfatin-1 increases anxiety- and fear-related behaviors in the rat.
BACKGROUND
Nesfatin-1, derived from the protein NEFA/nucleobindin2 (NUCB2), is a newly identified peptide that acts as a potent satiety agent. It has been reported that peptides involved in the regulation of ingestive behavior are also involved in the regulation of the stress response. However, the relation between nesfatin-1 and stressor-related behaviors like anxiety and/or fear has not yet been investigated.


OBJECTIVE
The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of nesfatin-1 (0, 5, and 25 pmol/3 microl) were assessed in several paradigms that are thought to reflect anxiety and/or fear in rats.


RESULTS
Consistent with an anxiogenic effect, nesfatin-1 dose-dependently decreased the percentage of time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze, increased latency to approach, and decreased consumption of a palatable snack in an anxiogenic (unfamiliar) environment. Moreover, ICV nesfatin-1 increased the fear-potentiated startle response and the time spent freezing to both context and conditioned cues in a conditioned emotional response test.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that in addition to its role as a satiety peptide, nesfatin-1 may also be involved in the mediation of anxiety- and/or fear-related responses.
Merali
Z
Z
Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. merali@uottawa.ca
Cayer
C
C
Kent
P
P
Anisman
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008845:Microinjections; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects; D012527:Satiation / Q000502:physiology; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000139:chemically induced
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000630652:Nucb1 protein, rat; D000080866:Nucleobindins