HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

5-HT1A receptor activation reduces fear-related behavior following social defeat in Syrian hamsters.

Abstract
Social defeat leads to selective avoidance of familiar opponents as well as general avoidance of novel, non-threatening intruders. Avoidance of familiar opponents represents a fear-related memory whereas generalized social avoidance indicates anxiety-like behavior. We have previously shown that serotonin signaling alters responses to social defeat in Syrian hamsters, although it is unclear whether serotonin modulates defeat-induced fear, anxiety, or both. In this study we focus on 5-HT1A receptors, in part, because their activation had been linked to the acquisition of conditioned fear. We hypothesized that pharmacological activation of 5-HT1A receptors prior to social defeat would reduce avoidance of familiar opponents and impair Arc expression in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), but not alter anxiety-like behavior. We administered 8-OH-DPAT, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, prior to 3, 5-minute social defeats and 24h later exposed hamsters to a social interaction test to measure the conditioned defeat response immediately followed by either a Y-maze test or an open field test. In a separate experiment, we administered 8-OH-DPAT prior to 3, 5-minute social defeats and later removed the brains for Arc immunohistochemistry. Social defeat increased the number of Arc immunopositive cells in the central amygdala (CeA), prelimbic cortex (PL), and BLA, and 8-OH-DPAT treatment reduced Arc immunoreactivity in the PL. These results suggest that 5-HT1A receptor activation impairs the fear memory associated with social defeat, but does not alter defeat-induced anxiety. Overall, 5-HT1A receptor activation may impair Arc expression in select brain regions such as the PL and thereby disrupt the development of a fear memory essential for the conditioned defeat response.
AuthorsLauren R Bader, Joseph D Carboni, Cody A Burleson, Matthew A Cooper
JournalPharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior (Pharmacol Biochem Behav) Vol. 122 Pg. 182-90 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1873-5177 [Electronic] United States
PMID24726709 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
CopyrightCopyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Chemical References
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
Topics
  • Animals
  • Anxiety (metabolism, prevention & control, psychology)
  • Cricetinae
  • Fear (drug effects, physiology, psychology)
  • Male
  • Mesocricetus
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A (metabolism)
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
  • Social Behavior
  • Stress, Psychological (metabolism, prevention & control, psychology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: