title: PACAP in the BNST produces anorexia and weight loss in male and female rats.
abstract: Recent gene association studies have implicated pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) systems in several psychiatric disorders associated with stressor exposure, and we have argued that many of the behavioral consequences of repeated stressor exposure may depend on the expression of PACAP in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). One behavioral consequence of the activation of stress systems can be anorexia and subsequent weight loss, and both the activation of central PACAP systems as well as neuronal activity in the BNST have also been associated with anorexic states in rodents. Hence, we investigated the regulation of food and water intake and weight loss following BNST PACAP infusion. BNST PACAP38 dose-dependently decreased body weight, as well as food and water intake in the first 24 h following infusion. Because different BNST subregions differentially regulate stress responding, we further examined the effects of PACAP38 in either the anterior or posterior BNST. Anterior BNST PACAP38 infusion did not alter weight gain, whereas posterior PACAP38 infusion resulted in weight loss. PACAP38 infused into the lateral ventricles did not alter weight, suggesting that the effects of BNST-infused PACAP were not mediated by leakage into the ventricular system. These data suggest that PACAP receptor activation in posterior BNST subregions can produce anorexia and weight loss, and corroborate growing data implicating central PACAP activation in mediating the consequences of stressor exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocho-Schellenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lezak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Olivia M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roelke
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gick
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Inyop
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Shaquille
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Donna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Toufexis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Braas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: Sayamwong E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hammack
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D004958:Estradiol