CHOLECYSTOKININ IN ANXIETY

Cholecystokinin (CCK) plays an important role in both the alimentary t ract and the central nervous system (CNS). At present it seems to be t he most abundant neuropeptide in the CNS. This paper reviews the CCK n euronal system and its interactions with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA ) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT). In addition, its putative role in anxiety will be discussed on the basis of animal data and stu dies in healthy volunteers and panic disorder patients. According to t hese investigations, the CCK4 challenge test fulfills most criteria fo r an ideal panicogenic agent and evidence has been found that CCKB rec eptor antagonists might possess anxiolytic properties in man.