Cortagine, a specific agonist of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 1, is anxiogenic and antidepressive in the mouse model

A Postpartum Model in Rat: Behavioral and Gene Expression Changes Induced by Ovarian Steroid Deprivation

“…It is also possible that the elevated anxiety observed in the HSPP-H withdrawal group could contribute to the altered behavior in the FST. This is supported by previous studies demonstrating that agents that increase anxiety, including pentylenetetrazol, a corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRF1) agonist, or a diazepam inverse agonist, all decrease immobility time in the FST, similar to the effects observed in the present study (31)(32)(33). In addition, exposure to stress produces a state where subsequent antidepressant treatment increases, instead of decreases, immobility (34).…”

Anxiogenic-Like Behavioral Phenotype of Mice Deficient in Phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B)

“…Since PDE4BÀ/À mice displayed anxiety-like behavior, it is possible that the 'antidepressant-like' effect in the FST resulted from anxiety-related struggling, leading to decreased immobility. This is supported by studies showing that treatment causing anxiogenic-like effects (eg acute pentylenetetrazol or the CRF1 agonist cortagine) results in antidepressant-like behavior in the FST (Cannizzaro et al, 1993;Tezval et al, 2004). Therefore, the 'antidepressant-like' effect of PDE4BÀ/À mice observed in the FST may be a 'false positive' result.…”

CRF type 1 receptors in the dorsal periaqueductal gray modulate anxiety-induced defensive behaviors

“…As a result, an interaction between CRF1 and CRF2 mediated actions might contribute to a broader range of defensive behaviors, including those elicited by both high and low-level stimulus intensities, as in the case with the MDTB. In addition, although similar doses were used in the two studies, cortagine was shown to potentiate anxiety-like behavior in the EPM at a lower dose than oCRF (Tezval et al, 2004). Secondly, cortagine's enhanced potency may have created a ceiling effect at the 100ng dose, suggesting the value of examination of doses between 30ng and 100ng.…”

“…The lack of effects may be related to a number of factors. First, although oCRF preferentially activates CRF1, CRF2 are activated as well (Tezval et al, 2004). As a result, an interaction between CRF1 and CRF2 mediated actions might contribute to a broader range of defensive behaviors, including those elicited by both high and low-level stimulus intensities, as in the case with the MDTB.…”

“…Recently, a novel CRF1 highly selective agonist, cortagine, has been developed. In these studies, cortagine enhanced both anxiogenic responses in the EPM and antidepressant-like behaviors in the Forced-Swim-Test (FST) (Tezval, et al, 2004;Todorovic, et al, 2005).…”