Involvement of transmitters in the anxiolytic action of urocortin 3 in mice

• Published in: Behavioural brain research 2013-09, Vol.252, p.88-91
• Main Authors: Telegdy, G., Adamik, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Anxiety - chemically induced; Atropine - therapeutic use; Behavioral psychophysiology; Bicuculline - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Haloperidol - therapeutic use; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Medical sciences; Methysergide - therapeutic use; Mice; Naloxone - therapeutic use; Neuropharmacology; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; Neurotransmitter Agents - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Propranolol - therapeutic use; Psycholeptics: tranquillizer, neuroleptic; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopharmacology; Time Factors; Urocortin 3 anxiolytic action; Urocortins - drug effects; Urocortins - toxicity
• ISSN: 0166-4328; 1872-7549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.05.054

•Urocortin 3 elicits anxiolytic action in the plus maze in mice.•The action is mediated by dopaminergic, cholinergic, beta-adrenergic and serotonergic receptors.•Alfa-adrenergic and GABA-A-ergic mediation is not involved. Urocortin 3 (Ucn 3) was tested for anxiolytic action in mice an elevated plus maze. For detection of the possible involvement of neurotransmitters, the mice were pretreated with receptor blockers: haloperidol, phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, atropine, methysergide, bicuculline or naloxone. The peptide was administered into the lateral brain ventricle; the receptor blockers were applied intra- peritoneally. Ucn 3 alone elicited dose-dependent bell-shaped anxiolytic action. The most effective dose was 0.5μg. In the combined testing a 0.5μg dose was used. Haloperidol, propranolol, atropine, methysergide, and naloxone, blocked the Ucn 3-induced anxiolytic action, while phenoxybenzamine and bicuculline were ineffective. The results suggest that dopaminergic, beta-adrenergic, cholinergic, serotonergic and opiate transmissions are involved in the anxiolytic action of Ucn 3.