Involvement of brain neuropeptides in stress-related behaviours

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Involvement of brain neuropeptides in stress-related behaviours Inga D. Neumann1* 1 University of Regensburg, Germany The neuropeptides oxytocin (OXT) and prolactin (PRL) are released within the brain regions in response to reproductive (suckling, sexual activity) and stressful stimuli and modulate neuroendocrine and behavioural stress parameters. Sites of such actions include the central amygdala and the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) as shown in rats. Consequences of physiological up-regulation of endogenous OXT and PRL system activity, e.g. in lactating females or in males after sexual activity include reduced anxiety levels or attenuated stress responsiveness. Moreover, the swim stress-induced rise in OXT release within the central amygdala is involved in the regulation of active versus passive stress coping style, as revealed by local retrodialysis of the OXT receptor antagonist. Manipulation of the brain OXT /PRL systems by pharmacological or genetic tools further reveals their involvement in emotional responses and underlying cellular mechanisms. Chronic up-regulation of OXT receptor expression and binding by local infusion of an adenoviral vector into the amygdala of virgin rats reduces their anxiety-related behaviour. Also, a local anxiolytic effect of OXT was found within the PVN of male rats after acute local infusion of OXT, which is locally mediated by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) cascade. Also, chronic PRL treatment attenuates the acute stress response and reverses the chronic stress-induced impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis. Effects of OXT and PRL within the PVN, the amygdala and hippocampus may have wide implications for the regulation of emotionality, stress coping and social behaviours, and, consequently, for the development of possible therapeutic strategies to treat anxiety- and depression-related diseases or abnormal social behaviours. Supported by DFG and BMBF. Conference: 41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting, Rhodes Island, Greece, 13 Sep - 18 Sep, 2009. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Symposia lectures Citation: Neumann ID (2009). Involvement of brain neuropeptides in stress-related behaviours. Conference Abstract: 41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.08.2009.09.041 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 04 Jun 2009; Published Online: 04 Jun 2009. * Correspondence: Inga D Neumann, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany, inga.neumann@biologie.uni-regensburg.de Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Inga D Neumann Google Inga D Neumann Google Scholar Inga D Neumann PubMed Inga D Neumann Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.