Investigation of the mechanisms on the emotional behaviors in mice via delta opioid receptors in prelimbic prefrontal cortex

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26461730
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Akiyoshi Saitoh 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 精神保健研究所 精神薬理研究部, 室長 (00366832)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 行動薬理 / 精神薬理

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The local co-perfusion of a selective δ opioid receptor (DOR) agonist KNT-127 with a sodium channel activator veratrine in prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (PL-PFC) diminished the veratrine-induced anxiety-like behaviors and extracellular glutamate levels. Interestingly, KNT-127 diminished a glutamate transporter inhibitor TFB-TBOA-induced anxiety-like behaviors without effect on TFB-TBOA-induced extracellular glutamate levels. These inhibitory effects of KNT-127 were antagonized by the co-perfusion of a DOR antagonist NTI. Based on these results, we suggested that KNT-127 in the PL-PFC reduced anxiety-like behaviors by suppressing the pre/post-synaptically glutamatergic transmission, bidirectionally. We proposed that a DOR agonist KNT-127 that inhibits glutamatergic transmission in the PL-PFC is a possible candidate for a novel anxiolytic.

Free Research Field

精神薬理学