scholarly journals The effect of 5-HT2a/2c receptor agonist microinjected into central amygdaloid nucleus and median preoptic area on maternal aggressive behavior in rats

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Maria Martins de Almeida ◽  
Marcia Giovenardi ◽  
Simone Perroni da Silva ◽  
Verônica Paz de Oliveira ◽  
Dirson João Stein
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Receptor Agonist ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Amygdaloid Nucleus ◽  
Preoptic Nucleus ◽  
Social Investigation ◽  
Maternal Aggression ◽  
Median Preoptic Nucleus ◽  
Central Amygdaloid Nucleus ◽  
Periaqueductal Grey Area

OBJECTIVE: Much evidence supports the hypothesis that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) activation is related to the inhibition of aggression. We examined potentially pro- and anti-aggressive effects of the 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist on specific brain sites. METHOD: Female Wistar rats on the 7th day postpartum were microinjected with the selective 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist, alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine maleate (0.2 to 1.0 µg/0.2 µl) into the central amygdaloid nucleus and median preoptic nucleus. For each brain area studied, the frequency of the behaviors: locomotion, social investigation, lateral threat, attacks (frontal and lateral), and biting the intruder were compared among the various treatments by an Analysis of Variance, followed when appropriate, by Tukey's test. RESULTS: Microinjection of the selective 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist, a-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine maleate into central amygdaloid nucleus increased maternal aggression in the absence of concurrent changes in non-aggressive behavior. By contrast, microinjection of the selective 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist at several dilutions into the median preoptic nucleusdid not alter aggressive behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The current and earlier data with pro- and anti-aggressive effects of the 5-HT2a/2c receptor agonist, when microinjected into the median preoptic nucleus relative to the central amygdaloid nucleus, medial septum and periaqueductal grey area in female rats point to functionally separate serotonin receptor populations in the amygdaloid-septal-hypothalamic and periaqueductal gray matter areas controlling aggressive behavior. It is possible that amygdaloid 5-HT2a/2c receptors may increase aggressive behavior in lactating females as a result of changes in fear.

scholarly journals Estradiol Action at the Median Preoptic Nucleus is Necessary and Sufficient for Sleep Suppression in Female rats

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Smith ◽  
DM Cusmano ◽  
DJ Phillips ◽  
SS Viechweg ◽  
MD Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movement ◽  
Ovarian Hormones ◽  
Gonadal Steroids ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Rapid Eye Movement ◽  
Preoptic Nucleus ◽  
Direct Infusion ◽  
Sleep Behavior ◽  
Median Preoptic Nucleus ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

AbstractTo further our understanding of how gonadal steroids impact sleep biology, we sought to address the mechanism by which proestrus levels of cycling ovarian steroids, particularly estradiol (E2), suppress sleep in female rats. We showed that steroid replacement of proestrus levels of E2 to ovariectomized female rats, suppressed sleep to similar levels as those reported by endogenous ovarian hormones. We further showed that this suppression is due to the high levels of E2 alone, and that progesterone did not have a significant impact on sleep behavior. We found that E2 action within the Median Preoptic Nucleus (MnPN), which contains estrogen receptors (ERs), is necessary for this effect; antagonism of ERs in the MnPN attenuated the E2-mediated suppression of both non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Finally, we found E2 action at the MnPN is also sufficient for sleep suppression, as direct infusion of E2 into the MnPN suppressed sleep. Based on our findings, we predict proestrus levels of E2 alone, acting at the MnPN, mediate sex-hormone driven suppression of sleep in female rats.

Gonadal Steroid Influence Upon Sexual and Aggressive Behavior of Female Rats

1988 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 271-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. E. Van De Poll ◽  
M. S. Taminiau ◽  
E. Endert ◽  
A. L. Louwerse
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Gonadal Steroid

Neuronal Sodium Leak Channel Is Responsible for the Detection of Sodium in the Rat Median Preoptic Nucleus

2011 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 650-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Tremblay ◽  
Emmanuelle Berret ◽  
Mélaine Henry ◽  
Benjamin Nehmé ◽  
Louis Nadeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
The Body ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Preoptic Nucleus ◽  
Leak Channel ◽  
Median Preoptic Nucleus ◽  
Electrophysiological Recordings

Sodium (Na+) ions are of primary importance for hydromineral and cardiovascular homeostasis, and the level of Na+ in the body fluid compartments [plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)] is precisely monitored in the hypothalamus. Glial cells seem to play a critical role in the mechanism of Na+ detection. However, the precise role of neurons in the detection of extracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]out) remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that neurons of the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), a structure in close contact with the CSF, are specific Na+ sensors. Electrophysiological recordings were performed on dissociated rat MnPO neurons under isotonic [Na+] (100 mM NaCl) with local application of hypernatriuric (150, 180 mM NaCl) or hyponatriuric (50 mM NaCl) external solution. The hyper- and hyponatriuric conditions triggered an in- and an outward current, respectively. The reversal potential of the current matched the equilibrium potential of Na+, indicating that a change in [Na+]out modified the influx of Na+ in the MnPO neurons. The conductance of the Na+ current was not affected by either the membrane potential or the [Na+]out. Moreover, the channel was highly selective for lithium over guanidinium. Together, these data identified the channel as a Na+ leak channel. A high correlation between the electrophysiological recordings and immunofluorescent labeling for the NaX channel in dissociated MnPO neurons strongly supports this channel as a candidate for the Na+ leak channel responsible for the Na+-sensing ability of rat MnPO neurons. The absence of NaX labeling and of a specific current evoked by a change in [Na+]out in mouse MnPO neurons suggests species specificity in the hypothalamus structures participating in central Na+ detection.

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