Modification of Anxious Behavior after Psychogenic Trauma and Treatment with Galanin Receptor Antagonist

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2015 Jul;159(3):344-7. doi: 10.1007/s10517-015-2958-x. Epub 2015 Jul 24.

Abstract

Effects of blockage of central galanin receptors on anxiety manifestations were studied in rats with psychogenic trauma. Psychogenic trauma was modeled by exposure of a group of rats to the situation when the partner was killed by a predator. Antagonist of galanin receptors was intranasally administered before stress exposure. Animal behavior was evaluated using the elevated-plus maze test, free exploratory paradigm, and open-field test. Psychogenic trauma was followed by an increase in anxiety level and appearance of agitated behavior. Blockage of galanin receptors aggravated behavioral impairment, which manifested in the pathological anxious reactions - manifestations of hypervigilance and hyperawareness. The results suggest that endogenous pool of galanin is involved into prevention of excessive CNS response to stressful stimuli typical of posttraumatic stress disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Exploratory Behavior / drug effects
  • Galanin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Galanin / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Galanin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Receptors, Galanin
  • Galanin