title: Anxiolytic action of urocortin 3 fragments in mice.
abstract: In the present experiments, the anxiolytic action of Ucn 3 fragments were studied in an elevated plus maze in mice following icv administration in an attempt to identify the biologically active center of the molecule. Ucn 3, Ucn 3 (18-38), Ucn 3 (19-27), Ucn 3 (28-38), Ucn 3 (34-38), and Ucn 3 (36-38) but not Ucn 3 (34-36), demonstrated anxiolytic action by increasing the time the mice spent in open arms, and Ucn 3 and Ucn 3 (34-38) did so by increasing the number of entries into open arms. The shortest molecule which elicited anxiolytic effects was the tripeptide Ucn 3 (36-38), H-Ala-Gln-Ile-NH(2). The results indicate that the total sequence of Ucn 3 is not necessary for the anxiolytic action of Ucn 3. Establishment the smallest active sequence of Ucn 3 will allow the synthesis of analogs or mimetics for anxiolytic action.
authors: University of Szeged, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Semmelweis 1, Szeged, Hungary. telegdy@patph.szote.u-szeged.hu
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Telegdy
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kádár
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Tóth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D054832:Urocortins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C426704:UCN3 protein, human; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone