Central, but not basolateral, amygdala involvement in the anxiolytic-like effects of midazolam in rats in the elevated plus maze

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milene C Carvalho ◽  
Caio M Moreira ◽  
Janaína M Zanoveli ◽  
Marcus L Brandão
Keyword(s):  
Basolateral Amygdala ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Dorsal Hippocampus ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
Input And Output ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Main Input ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
Behavior Of Rats

The role of the amygdala in the mediation of fear and anxiety has been extensively investigated. However, how the amygdala functions during the organization of the anxiety-like behaviors generated in the elevated plus maze (EPM) is still under investigation. The basolateral (BLA) and the central (CeA) nuclei are the main input and output stations of the amygdala. In the present study, we ethopharmacologically analyzed the behavior of rats subjected to the EPM and the tissue content of the monoamines dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), dorsal hippocampus (DH), and dorsal striatum (DS) of animals injected with saline or midazolam (20 and 30 nmol/0.2 µL) into the BLA or CeA. Injections of midazolam into the CeA, but not BLA, caused clear anxiolytic-like effects in the EPM. These treatments did not cause significant changes in 5-HT or DA contents in the NAc, DH, or DS of animals tested in the EPM. The data suggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of midazolam in the EPM also appear to rely on GABA-benzodiazepine mechanisms in the CeA, but not BLA, and do not appear to depend on 5-HT and DA mechanisms prevalent in limbic structures.

scholarly journals Context-induced relapse to drug seeking: a review

2008 ◽  
Vol 363 (1507) ◽  
pp. 3233-3243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans S Crombag ◽  
Jennifer M Bossert ◽  
Eisuke Koya ◽  
Yavin Shaham
Keyword(s):  
Basolateral Amygdala ◽  
Dorsal Hippocampus ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Occasion Setting ◽  
Drug Seeking ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Study Context

In humans, exposure to environmental contexts previously associated with drug intake often provokes relapse to drug use, but the mechanisms mediating this relapse are unknown. Based on early studies by Bouton & Bolles on context-induced ‘renewal’ of learned behaviours, we developed a procedure to study context-induced relapse to drug seeking. In this procedure, rats are first trained to self-administer drug in one context. Next, drug-reinforced lever responding is extinguished in a different (non-drug) context. Subsequently, context-induced reinstatement of drug seeking is assessed by re-exposing rats to the drug-associated context. Using variations of this procedure, we and others reported reliable context-induced reinstatement in rats with a history of heroin, cocaine, heroin–cocaine combination, alcohol and nicotine self-administration. Here, we first discuss potential psychological mechanisms of context-induced reinstatement, including excitatory and inhibitory Pavlovian conditioning, and occasion setting. We then summarize results from pharmacological and neuroanatomical studies on the role of several neurotransmitter systems (dopamine, glutamate, serotonin and opioids) and brain areas (ventral tegmental area, accumbens shell, dorsal striatum, basolateral amygdala, prefrontal cortex, dorsal hippocampus and lateral hypothalamus) in context-induced reinstatement. We conclude by discussing the clinical implications of rat studies on context-induced reinstatement of drug seeking.

scholarly journals Effects of Xiaoyaosan on Stress-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior in Rats: Involvement of CRF1 Receptor

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
You-Ming Jiang ◽  
Xiao-Juan Li ◽  
Zhen-Zhi Meng ◽  
Yue-Yun Liu ◽  
Hong-Bo Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basolateral Amygdala ◽  
Immobilization Stress ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Antidepressant Activity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sd Rats ◽  
Surgery Group ◽  
Artificial Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Plus Maze

Background. Compared with antidepressant activity of Xiaoyaosan, the role of Xiaoyaosan in anxiety has been poorly studied.Objective. To observe the effects of Xiaoyaosan on anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic immobilization stress (CIS) and further explore whether these effects were related to CRF1R signaling.Methods. Adult male SD rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n=12): the nonstressed control group, vehicle-treated (saline, p.o.) group, Xiaoyaosan-treated (3.854 g/kg, p.o.) group, vehicle-treated (surgery) group, and antalarmin-treated (surgery) group. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (0.5 μL/side) or CRF1R antagonist antalarmin (125 ng/0.5 μL, 0.5 μL/side) was bilaterally administered into the basolateral amygdala in the surgery groups. Except for the nonstressed control group, the other four groups were exposed to CIS (14 days, 3 h/day) 30 minutes after treatment. On days 15 and 16, all animals were subjected to the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and novelty suppressed feeding (NSF) test. We then examined the expression of CRF1R, pCREB, and BDNF in the amygdala.Results. Chronic pretreatment with Xiaoyaosan or antalarmin significantly reversed elevated anxiety-like behavior and the upregulated level of CRF1R and BDNF in the amygdala of stressed rats. pCREB did not differ significantly among the groups.Conclusions. These results suggest that Xiaoyaosan exerts anxiolytic-like effects in behavioral tests and the effects may be related to CRF1R signaling in the amygdala.

The role of vision and proprioception in the aversion of rats to the open arms of an elevated plus-maze

2002 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Martı́nez ◽  
Fernando Cardenas ◽  
Marisol Lamprea ◽  
Silvio Morato
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Plus Maze

Anxiogenic effects in the rat elevated plus-maze of 5-HT2C agonists into ventral but not dorsal hippocampus

2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Alves ◽  
G. Pinheiro ◽  
V. Motta ◽  
J. Landeira-Fernandez ◽  
A. P. M. Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Dorsal Hippocampus ◽  
Plus Maze

scholarly journals Role of 5-HT1A Receptor in the Anxiolytic-Relaxant Effects of Bergamot Essential Oil in Rodent

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Rombolà ◽  
Damiana Scuteri ◽  
Chizuko Watanabe ◽  
Shinobu Sakurada ◽  
Kengo Hamamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Relaxant Effect ◽  
Serotonergic Receptors ◽  
Selective Agonist ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Way 100635 ◽  
Pharmacological Data ◽  
Citrus Bergamia

The essential oil obtained by the fresh fruit of Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau is used worldwide in aromatherapy to reduce pain, facilitate sleep induction, and/or minimize the effects of stress-induced anxiety. Preclinical pharmacological data demonstrate that bergamot essential oil (BEO) modulates specific neurotransmissions and shows an anxiolytic-relaxant effect not superimposable to that of the benzodiazepine diazepam, suggesting that neurotransmissions, other than GABAergic, could be involved. Several studies on essential oils indicate a role for serotonergic (5-HT) neurotransmission in anxiety. Interestingly, among serotonergic receptors, the 5-HT1A subtype seems to play a key role in the control of anxiety. Here, we report that modulation of the 5-HT1A receptor by selective agonist ((±)8-OH-DPAT) or antagonist (WAY-100635) may influence some of the anxiolytic-relaxant effects of BEO in Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze tests.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document