masterThesis
Efeito do agonista do receptor da nociceptina/orfanina FQ, Ro65-6570, no comportamento do tipo ansioso de camundongos desamparados
Fecha
2017-04-27Registro en:
AZEVEDO NETO, Joaquim Gonçalves de. Efeito do agonista do receptor da nociceptina/orfanina FQ, Ro65-6570, no comportamento do tipo ansioso de camundongos desamparados. 2017. 68f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Psicobiologia) - Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 2017.
Autor
Azevedo Neto, Joaquim Gonçalves de
Resumen
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a heptadecapeptide, acting as an endogenous ligand of the NOP receptor. The NOP receptor has wide expression in the central nervous system and its activation induces inhibitory effects, causing reduction of neurotransmitters release and/or inhibition of neuronal firing, depending on the site (pre or post-synaptic) in which it is expressed. In vivo studies have showed the involvement of the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system in the modulation of emotional states. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the NOP agonist, Ro65-6570, on the mouse behavioral changes after an uncontrollable stressful situation due to unpredictable electric footshocks. To achieve this aim, the learned helplessness model (LH) was used as a stressor to induce a helpless behavior. Helpless phenotype consists of a deficit in the escape behavior of the electrified compartment. Not all animals exposed to the LH developed the helpless phenotype, and then two distinct groups were observed: helpless and non-helpless mice. After the LH, tests were performed aimed to identify the behavioral changes induced by stress, such as elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swimming and open field. LH exposure induced anxiogenic-like effects in helpless mice. In fact, when compared to non-helpless and naive controls, helpless mice displayed decreased number of entries and time spent in the open arms of the EPM. After then, the effects of diazepam (1 mg/kg, via ip) and the NOP agonist, Ro65-6570 (1 mg/kg, via ip) were assessed in the anxiogenic-like behavior of helpless mice, as well as in spontaneous locomotion. Diazepam was able to reverse the anxiogenic-related behaviors of helpless mice in the EPM, without affecting locomotion. Similarly, the administration of Ro65-6570 induced anxiolytic effects only in helpless mice, without changes in the locomotor activity. In conclusion, this study supports to the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system as an innovative therapeutic target for the treatment of psychiatric disorders related to stress.