Hemokinin-1 mediates anxiolytic and anti-depressant-like actions in mice


Borbely, E, Hajna, Z, Nabi, L, Scheich, B, Tekus, V, Laszlo, K, Ollmann, T, Kormos, V, Gaszner, B, Karadi, Z et al (show 8 more authors) (2017) Hemokinin-1 mediates anxiolytic and anti-depressant-like actions in mice. BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY, 59. pp. 219-232.

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Abstract

The tachykinin NK1 receptor was suggested to be involved in psychiatric disorders, but its antagonists have failed to be effective as antidepressants in clinical trials. Hemokinin-1 (HK-1), the newest tachykinin, is present in several brain regions and activates the NK1 receptor similarly to substance P (SP), but acts also through other mechanisms. Therefore, we investigated the roles of the Tac4 gene-derived HK-1 in comparison with SP and neurokinin A (NKA) encoded by the Tac1 gene, as well as the NK1 receptor in anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice. Mice lacking SP/NKA, HK-1 or the NK1 receptor (Tac1(-/-), Tac4(-/-), Tacr1(-/-), respectively) compared to C57Bl/6 wildtypes (WT), and treatment with the NK1 antagonist CP99994 were used in the experiments. Anxiety was evaluated in the light-dark box (LDB) and the elevated plus maze (EPM), locomotor activity in the open field (OFT) tests. Hedonic behavior was assessed in the sucrose preference test (SPT), depression-like behavior in the tail suspension (TST) and forced swim (FST) tests. FST-induced neuronal responsiveness was evaluated with Fos immunohistochemistry in several stress-related brain regions. In the LDB, Tac4(-/-) mice spent significantly less, while Tacr1(-/-) and CP99994-treated mice spent significantly more time in the lit compartment. In the EPM only Tac4(-/-) showed reduced time in the open arms, but no difference was observed in any other groups. In the OFT Tac4(-/-) mice showed significantly reduced, while Tac1(-/-) and Tacr1(-/-) animals increased motility than the WTs, but CP99994 had no effect. NK1(-/-) consumed markedly more, while Tac4(-/-) less sucrose solution compared to WTs. In the TST and FST, Tac4(-/-) mice showed significantly increased immobility. However, depression-like behavior was decreased both in cases of genetic deletion and pharmacological blockade of the NK1 receptor. FST-induced neuronal activation in different nuclei involved in behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses was significantly reduced in the brain of Tac4(-/-) mice. Our results provide the first evidence for an anxiolytic and anti-depressant-like actions of HR-1 through a presently unknown target-mediated mechanism. Identification of its receptor and/or signaling pathways might open new perspectives for anxiolytic and anti-depressant therapies. 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Tachykinins, Behavior, Forced swim test, Tail suspension test, Open field test, Light-dark box test, Elevated plus maze test, Sucrose preference test, Fos immunohistochemistry
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 27 Oct 2016 10:57
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 07:27
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.09.004
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3004002
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