Intracerebroventricular injection of L-aspartic acid and L-asparagine induces sedative effects under an acute stressful condition in neonatal chicks.
The present study was conducted to clarify the central functions of L-aspartic acid (Asp) and L-asparagine (Asn) during an acute stressful condition in chicks. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Asp and Asn (0.84 micromol) attenuated the vocalization that normally occurs during social separation stress. Asp decreased the time spent in active wakefulness and induced sedation. Asn had a similar effect to Asp, although somewhat weaker. However, i.c.v. injection of Asp and Asn further enhanced plasma corticosterone release under social separation stress. Taken together, the i.c.v. injection of Asp and Asn has sedative effects under an acute stressful condition, which does not involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Yamane
Haruka
H
Laboratory of Advanced Animal and Marine Bioresources, Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Higashi, Fukuoka, Japan.
Asechi
Mari
M
Tsuneyoshi
Yousuke
Y
Kurauchi
Isao
I
Denbow
D Michael
DM
Furuse
Mitsuhiro
M
D000818:Animals; D001216:Asparagine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007267:Injections; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D001216:Asparagine