Allopregnanolone modulate serotoninergic system in an aggressive male rat model

MULLE BERNEDO, M. B.; BREGONZIO, C; BRUNI, S; ASTORGA, V; CABRERA, R

Con-Con, Viña del Mar

Workshop; Intenational Workshop of Neuroendocrinology 2017; 2017

The serotoninergic system modulates aggressive behaviour, mood and exploratory activity. Serotoninergic neurons receive GABAergic interneurons regulation. Neurosteroid allopregnanolone (allo) is GABAA allosteric modulator and play a modulatory role in serotoninergic neurons. In this study we attempted 1- to generate aggressive behaviour with para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) by inhibiting tryptophan hydroxylase in a cannulated model, and 2- to examine allo modulation in the serotoninergic system. Male Sprague-Dawley 60 days old rats were used and cannulated in the 3° ventricle. A resident/ intruder paradigm was applied. Animals were randomly divided in 2 groups: pCPA treated rats (300 mg/kg, i.p) evaluated on the 6th day after 30 munites allo administration (6 µM) and controls. Aggressive behaviour (AB) was measured as the time of attempted mounts, lateral threats, footsteps, bites, clinch and clinch attacks. Persecution latency time (PLT) was examined as a different parameter of AB. We also measured freezing, as an anxiety parameter and social and no social time. The test was recorded and the videos were analysed with Kinovea 0.8.15 software. Data were analysed by t Test. We observed a significant increase (p< 0.05) in AB and a significant increase (p