title: Involvement of the nucleus accumbens shell dopaminergic system in prelimbic NMDA-induced anxiolytic-like behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems are involved in fear/anxiety-related behaviors; meanwhile NAc dopaminergic system activity is mediated by PFC via NAc glutamatergic projections. This study has investigated the involvement of NAc shell dopaminergic system in prelimbic NMDA-induced anxiolytic-like behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elevated plus-maze apparatus was employed to test parameters of anxiety-like behaviors in male Wistar rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unilateral intra-prelimbic injection of NMDA (0.9 μg/μl) but not D-AP7 (NMDA receptor antagonist; 0.25, 0.5 and 1 μg/μl) induced anxiolytic-like behaviors which was blocked by D-AP7. Moreover, unilateral infusion of SCH23390 (dopamine D1 receptor antagonist; 0.25, 0.5 and 1 μg/μl) and quinpirole (dopamine D2 receptor agonist; 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 μg/μl) into the left NAc shell, did not alter anxiety-like behaviors. However, injection of SKF38393 (dopamine D1 receptor agonist; 3 μg/μl) and sulpiride (dopamine D2 receptor antagonist; 0.4 and 0.6 μg/μl) into the left NAc shell, likewise induced anxiolytic-like behaviors which were blocked by SCH23390 (0.25 μg/μl) and SKF96365 (Ca-channel blocker; 0.125 μg/μl)/SCH23390 (0.25 μg/μl), respectively. Furthermore, infusion of the subthreshold dose of SCH23390 (0.25 μg/μl) or quinpirole (0.25 μg/μl) into the left NAc shell, reduced while did not alter intra-prelimbic NMDA-induced anxiolytic-like behaviors, respectively. In addition, intra-NAc shell administration of the subthreshold dose of SKF38393 (1 μg/μl) or sulpiride (0.2 μg/μl), potentiated the lower dose response, while decreased the higher dose intra-left prelimbic NMDA response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested a modulatory effect of the NAc shell dopaminergic system on prelimbic NMDA-induced anxiolytic-like behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tarbiat Moalem (Kharazmi) University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hatam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasehi
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zarrindast
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D004298:Dopamine