Prior electrical stimulation of dorsal periaqueductal grey matter or deep layers of the superior colliculus sensitizes rats to anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated T-maze test

Almeida, Leandro Pinto de; Ramos, Patrício Lemos; Pandossio, José Eduardo; Landeira-Fernández, J.; Zangrossi, Hélio; Nogueira, Ricardo de Carvalho

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2006.02.020

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The current finding agrees with the results of a previous study by our group showing that a single-electrical stimulation session of the DPAG or superior colliculus at current intensities that evoke escape facilitated inhibitory avoidance acquisition in the elevated T-maze (19). As observed in the present analysis, the anxiogenic effect evoked by DPAG activation in that study was also short-lived.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Dorsal periaqueductal gray stimulation facilitates anxiety-, but not panic-related, defensive responses in rats tested in the elevated T-maze

Camplesi

Bortoli

Soares

et al. 2012

Braz J Med Biol Res

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The escape response to electrical or chemical stimulation of the dorsal periaqueductal gray matter (DPAG) has been associated with panic attacks. In order to explore the validity of the DPAG stimulation model for the study of panic disorder, we determined if the aversive consequences of the electrical or chemical stimulation of this midbrain area can be detected subsequently in the elevated T-maze. This animal model, derived from the elevated plus-maze, permits the measurement in the same rat of a generalized anxiety- and a panic-related defensive response, i.e., inhibitory avoidance and escape, respectively. Facilitation of inhibitory avoidance, suggesting an anxiogenic effect, was detected in male Wistar rats (200-220 g) tested in the elevated T-maze 30 min after DPAG electrical stimulation (current generated by a sine-wave stimulator, frequency at 60 Hz) or after local microinjection of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (5 pmol). Previous electrical (5, 15, 30 min, or 24 h before testing) or chemical stimulation of this midbrain area did not affect escape performance in the elevated T-maze or locomotion in an open-field. No change in the two behavioral tasks measured by the elevated T-maze was observed after repetitive (3 trials) electrical stimulation of the DPAG. The results indicate that activation of the DPAG caused a short-lived, but selective, increase in defensive behaviors associated with generalized anxiety.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Dorsal periaqueductal gray stimulation facilitates anxiety-, but not panic-related, defensive responses in rats tested in the elevated T-maze

Camplesi

Bortoli

Soares

et al. 2012

Braz J Med Biol Res

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“…The PPI mediation and startle pathways might be connected with the PPI modulation network (Figure 5) via PPTg and CuN (see above), but also via the dorsolateral PAG and dlSC, which were activated in the PPI paradigm and startle control. Excitation of the dorsolateral PAG increases fear-potentiation of startle response (Fendt, 1998), and stimulation of PAG together with dlSC sensitizes rats to anxiety-like behaviors (De Almeida et al, 2006). It has been proposed that CuN, PAG, and dlSC act as a functional unit to control the activity of the ventral medulla (Zemlan and Behbehani, 1984), and our results support this hypothesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural correlates of sensorimotor gating: a metabolic positron emission tomography study in awake rats

Rohleder

Jung

Mertgens

et al. 2014

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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Impaired sensorimotor gating occurs in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and can be measured using the prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm of the acoustic startle response. This assay is frequently used to validate animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders and to explore the therapeutic potential of new drugs. The underlying neural network of PPI has been extensively studied with invasive methods and genetic modifications. However, its relevance for healthy untreated animals and the functional interplay between startle- and PPI-related areas during a PPI session is so far unknown. Therefore, we studied awake rats in a PPI paradigm, startle control and background noise control, combined with behavioral [18F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). Subtractive analyses between conditions were used to identify brain regions involved in startle and PPI processing in well-hearing Black hooded rats. For correlative analysis with regard to the amount of PPI we also included hearing-impaired Lister hooded rats that startled more often, because their hearing threshold was just below the lowest prepulses. Metabolic imaging showed that the brain areas proposed for startle and PPI mediation are active during PPI paradigms in healthy untreated rats. More importantly, we show for the first time that the whole PPI modulation network is active during “passive” PPI sessions, where no selective attention to prepulse or startle stimulus is required. We conclude that this reflects ongoing monitoring of stimulus significance and constant adjustment of sensorimotor gating.

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“…PAG is an important center that directly innervates the pharyngeal and laryngeal motor neurons to control vocalization. It is well established that electrical stimulation of the dorsal PAG elicits anxiety-like reactions such as freezing, feelings of fear and terror, and concomitant autonomic changes such as tachycardia, exophthalmia, and increased blood pressure (LeDoux et al, 1988;de Almeida et al, 2006;McDannald, 2010). At the neurotransmitter level, it has been proposed that an increase in adenosine levels in the PAG may be responsible for the freezing behavior as the decreased levels of adenosine in the PAG is shown to reduce neuronal excitation and attenuate freezing (de Novellis et al, 2000).…”

Section: Brain Regions Involved In Development Of Anxiety and Panic Imentioning

confidence: 98%

Electric foot shock stress: a useful tool in neuropsychiatric studies

Bali

Jaggi

2015

Reviews in the Neurosciences

112

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AbstractElectric foot shock is a complex stressor with both physical and emotional components. It has been employed as an important tool to develop diverse animal models in the field of psychopharmacology. The electric foot shock paradigm includes acute or chronic exposures of shocks of varying intensity and duration on an electrified grid floor in an electric foot shock apparatus. Research evidence reveals that foot shocks of varying intensity produce behavioral and neurochemical changes reflecting depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans. Animals generally do not habituate to foot shocks in comparison to other stressors, including loud noise, bright light, and hot and cold temperatures. Additionally, it offers an experimental advantage of control over intensity and duration; therefore, by varying its application parameters, different disorder models have been created. Electric foot shock fear conditioning-induced ultrasonic vocalization and fear-potentiated startle have been explored to develop models of anxiety and panic. Similarly, fear conditioning in the form of foot shock exposure followed by situational reminders has been used to develop a model of PTSD. Electric foot shock-induced conflict has been explored to develop operant conflict models (Geller-Seifter and Vogel tests), which in turn are pharmacologically validated to screen potential anti-anxiety agents. Inescapable electric shock-induced ‘learned helplessness’ mimics the symptomology of depression, and this phenomenon has been employed to develop the model of depression. The present review describes the pharmacologically validated models of anxiety, depression, and PTSD involving electric foot shock as an aversive stimulus.

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Prior electrical stimulation of dorsal periaqueductal grey matter or deep layers of the superior colliculus sensitizes rats to anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated T-maze test

Cited by 17 publications

References 45 publications

Dorsal periaqueductal gray stimulation facilitates anxiety-, but not panic-related, defensive responses in rats tested in the elevated T-maze

Dorsal periaqueductal gray stimulation facilitates anxiety-, but not panic-related, defensive responses in rats tested in the elevated T-maze

Neural correlates of sensorimotor gating: a metabolic positron emission tomography study in awake rats

Electric foot shock stress: a useful tool in neuropsychiatric studies

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