title: Feeding behaviors and ORXR-β-GABA A R subunit interactions in Carassius auratus.
abstract: Orexins are one of the most potent orexigenic factors in fish that through their interaction with the GABA(A) receptor system assures the successful execution of feeding, motor and sleep-wake activities. In the present study, the effects of ORX-A (10ng/g BW) very greatly enhanced (p<0.001) the time spent in feeding behaviors while at the same time moderately increased (p<0.05) food intake of the goldfish. It is worthy to note that the great variations of time spent in feeding behaviors induced by β GABA(A)R agonist (muscimol, MUS) and antagonist (bicuculline, BIC) did not result to be correlated to any significant variations of food intake. It was, however, a T-maze study allowing us to establish that learning and mnemonic events very likely also operated in an ORX-A+GABA(A)R-dependent fashion in our fish model. Indeed, animals conditioned by red/blue lights greatly reduced latency time in the presence of ORX-A while neither MUS nor BIC alone modified such a parameter, with the exception of ORX-A+MUS being responsible for a moderate decrease of latency time with respect to conditioned fish treated with a saline solution. Conversely, ORX-A+MUS/BIC seemed to interfere with ORX-A actions as shown by their very great increase in latency time. Moreover, T-maze results appeared to be strengthened by evident ORXR transcriptional variations especially by the very great mRNA densities detected in some telencephalic regions of animals treated with ORX-A. Of all telencephalic regions Dl, considered homologous to the mammalian hippocampus, proved to be a major target for ORX-A effects. Overall, these data suggest that it is mainly the ORXergic system that promotes feeding behaviors via reward pathways in teleost fish as in mammals. Surprisingly, β GABA(A)R drugs did not modify such behaviors when given alone while the inhibitory effect on cognitive/reward processes was evoked when given together with ORX-A, suggesting that more than β subunits other GABA(A)R subunits could be promoting mnemonically guided motor behaviors.
authors: Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Ecology Department, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy. rm.facciolo@unical.it
authors: Rosa Maria
authors: RM
authors: Facciolo
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Crudo
authors: Merylin
authors: M
authors: Zizza
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Giusi
authors: Marcello
authors: M
authors: Canonaco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006054:Goldfish / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012201:Reward; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide