Role of dorsal raphe nucleus GHS-R1a receptors in the regulation of inhibitory avoidance and escape behaviors in rats.

Role of dorsal raphe nucleus GHS-R1a receptors in the regulation of inhibitory avoidance and escape behaviors in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2019 Mar 08;: Authors: Cavalcante DP, Turones LC, Camargo-Silva G, Santana JS, Colugnati DB, Pansani AP, Xavier CH, Henschel Pobbe RL Abstract Ghrelin is a recently discovered peptide, mainly produced in the stomach and involved in body's energy-maintenance processes. Ghrelin exerts its actions by activating the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Recent analyses indicate that ghrelin targets the brain to regulate a wealth of functions, including behavioral responses that have been associated with stress and anxiety mechanisms. In this context, evidence shows the presence of GHS-R receptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), the main source of serotonergic neurons that innervate encephalic structures involved in emotional control. Our study aims to evaluate the effects of the pharmacological manipulation of ghrelin receptors located in the DRN on the expression of the behavioral responses of Wistar rats. Such responses were assessed in the elevated T maze (ETM), an experimental model that allows the measurement, in the same animal, of two defensive tasks, inhibitory avoidance and escape. Our results showed that the intra-DRN infusion of ghrelin impaired the acquisition of inhibitory avoidance, an anxiolytic-like effect, and facilitated the expression of escape response in the ETM, indicatin...
Source: Behavioural Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research