EFFECTS OF DEOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE AND DIAZEPAM ON NEUROPEPTIDERGIC NEURONS IN RAT STRIATUM

Citation
Lr. Lucas et al., EFFECTS OF DEOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE AND DIAZEPAM ON NEUROPEPTIDERGIC NEURONS IN RAT STRIATUM, NeuroReport, 8(4), 1997, pp. 811-816
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
09594965
Volume
8
Issue
4
Year of publication
1997
Pages
811 - 816
Database
ISI
SICI code
0959-4965(1997)8:4<811:EODAAD>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
THE neurosteroid tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) interacts with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/ benzodiazepine (BZ) receptors. To test the hypothesis that THDOC works partially through mechanisms associat ed with GABA(A)/BZ receptor function, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOC A) and the benzodiazepine, diazepam (DZ), were administered short- (1 day) and long-term (11 days). Levels of mRNA for dynorphin, preprotach ykinin and preproenkephalin in the striatum of adult male Sprague-Dawl ey rats were measured by in situ hybridization. Acute DOCA and DZ trea tment produced parallel neuropeptide mRNA profiles, whereas chronic DO CA and DZ treatment yielded different patterns of neuropeptide gene ex pression. Chronic DZ treatment resulted in no significant increase in salt intake whereas chronic DOCA activated salt appetite. We suggest t hat acute DZ and DOCA interact with GABA(A)/BZ receptors; however, the results of chronic treatment suggest that DZ and DOCA operate through dissimilar mechanisms.