Intra-amygdaloid microinjection of neuropeptide glutamic acid-isoleucine induces anxiety-like behavior

SOLEDAD GASTÓN; PASCUAL A GARGIULO; CLAUDIA BREGONZIO; GUSTAVO BAIARDI

NEUROREPORT

LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS

Año: 2011 vol. 22 p. 83 - 87

0959-4965

The amygdaloid complex is involved in anxiety or fear responses to stressful stimuli. In this study the effect of neuropeptide-EI on anxiety-like behavior and its influence on adrenocortical function was tested in male Wistar rats that were injected bilaterally in the basolateral amygdala with neuropeptide-EI (1 lg/1 ll) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid and placed on the plus maze. The plasmacorticosterone levels were analyzed in controls and plusmaze exposed animals. Neuropeptide-EI in the basolateral amygdala significantly decreased the time spent in open arms but had no effect on locomotor activity, showing an anxiogenic effect. However, neuropeptide administration did not change serum corticosterone levels compared with vehicle controls. Our results suggest that the anxiogenic effect of neuropeptide-EI could be independent of the hypothalamic?pituitary?adrenocortical system response.