title: Transient inactivation of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell prominently ameliorates responses to acute stress in female rats.
abstract: It is clear that the stress response differs between females and males. Moreover, the nucleus accumbens shell is considered a critical area in the brain's response to stress. In the present study we investigate the effect of the transient inactivation of the NAc shell on the metabolic and hormonal disturbance induced by acute stress in female rats. Female Wistar rats were canulated uni- or bilaterally in the NAc shell before stress induction. Electric foot shock was applied to the animals and lidocaine hydrochloride was administered intra-acumbally 5min before each stress session. Food and water intake, delay to eating time, plasma corticosterone, estradiol and progesterone were measured after stress administration. Our results indicate that food intake increased whereas water intake decreased in stress group, furthermore, delay in the onset of eating also was observed. In addition, plasma corticosterone and progesterone concentrations were increased whereas estradiol was decreased. Transient inactivation of right side of NAc shell inhibited the stress effect on food intake; however, the effect of stress was exacerbated when the left part of the NAc shell was inhibited. Transient inactivation of both NAc shell sides augmented the stress effect on water intake. The same results also obtained for the effect of stress on delay to eating time. Lidocaine administration inhibited the effects of stress on all of the hormones we tested. It can be concluded that the NAc shell plays an important role in the mediation of stress responses in female rats and this influence shows asymmetrical manner.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Tahereh-Sadat
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Javadifar
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah (a.s) University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hedayat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sahraei
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of dentistry, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ketabi
authors.affiliation: Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center, CNRC, Tehran Medical Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasehi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center, CNRC, Tehran Medical Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran; Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of School Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran Iran. Electronic address: zarinmr@ams.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zarrindast
keywords: Female rats; Lidocaine; Nucleus accumbens shell; Stress