Blockade by diazepam of conditioned fear-induced activation of rat mesoprefrontal dopamine neurons.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav
; 33(2): 477-9, 1989 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-2510185
ABSTRACT
The effect of diazepam on activation of the mesoprefrontal dopamine (DA) system by an emotional stress model without direct physical stimuli was examined. Environmental stimuli previously paired with inescapable footshock (conditioned fear) elicited increases in levels of the DA metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), in the medial prefrontal cortex and of plasma corticosterone in rats. The increases in both levels were blocked by pretreatment with diazepam (5 mg/kg, IP); such blocking effects were reversed by Ro 15-1788 (15 mg/kg, IP), the benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor antagonist. These data suggest that diazepam can block activation of mesoprefrontal DA neurons as well as hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical system elicited by the conditioned fear paradigm. This action appears to be a specific action of BZDs mediated through BZD receptors. We suggest that blocking effects of BZDs on the hyperactivity of the mesoprefrontal DA neurons may be one neural mechanism of their anxiolytic actions.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estresse Psicológico
/
Dopamina
/
Condicionamento Psicológico
/
Diazepam
/
Medo
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Pharmacol Biochem Behav
Ano de publicação:
1989
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão