title: Anxiolytic effect of neurotensin microinjection into the ventral pallidum.
abstract: Neurotensin (NT) acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the central nervous system. NT is involved in reward and memory processes, drug addiction and also in the regulation of anxiety. The ventral pallidum (VP) receives neurotensinergic innervation from the ventral striatopallidal pathway originating from the nucleus accumbens. Positive reinforcing effects of NT in the VP had been shown recently, however the possible effects of NT on anxiety have not been examined yet. In our present experiments, the effects of NT on anxiety were investigated in the VP. In male Wistar rats bilateral microinjections of 100 ng or 250 ng NT were delivered in the volume of 0.4 μl into the VP, and elevated plus maze (EPM) test was performed. In another groups of animals, 35 ng NT-receptor 1 (NTR1) antagonist SR 48,692 was applied by itself, or microinjected 15 min before 100 ng NT treatment. Open field test (OPF) was also conducted. The 100 ng dose of NT had anxiolytic effect, but the 250 ng NT did not influence anxiety. The antagonist pretreatment inhibited the effect of NT, while the antagonist itself had no effect. In the OPF test there was no difference among the groups. Our present results show that microinjection of NT into the VP induces anxiolytic effect, which is specific to the NTR1 receptors because it can be eliminated by a specific NTR1 antagonist. It is also substantiated that neither the NT, nor the NTR1 antagonist in the VP influences locomotor activity.
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Ollmann
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: László
authors: L
authors: Péczely
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Kristóf
authors: K
authors: László
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Kovács
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Gálosi
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Kertes
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Veronika
authors: V
authors: Kállai
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Zagorácz
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary; Molecular Neuroendocrinology and Neurophysiology Research Group, Pécs University, Szentágothai Center, Pécs, Hungary.
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Karádi
authors: Institute of Physiology, Pécs University, Medical School, Pécs, Hungary; Molecular Neuroendocrinology and Neurophysiology Research Group, Pécs University, Szentágothai Center, Pécs, Hungary. Electronic address: Laszlo.Lenard@aok.pte.hu.
authors: László
authors: L
authors: Lénárd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D066187:Basal Forebrain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011804:Quinolines; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; C079087:SR 48692; D009496:Neurotensin
keywords: Anxiety; Elevated plus maze test; NTR1 antagonist; Neurotensin; Open field test; Ventral pallidum