RESUMO
Prenatal exposure to nicotine has been associated with changes in behavioral indices in offspring. Flank marking, a scent-marking behavior in golden hamsters, appears to be controlled by arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurons in the hypothalamus. The present study examines the effects of prenatal exposure to nicotine on the vasopressinergic system associated with flank marking behavior.
Assuntos
Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Nicotina/administração & dosagem , Nicotina/efeitos adversos , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Animais , Arginina Vasopressina/metabolismo , Cricetinae , Feminino , Hipotálamo/metabolismo , GravidezRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Alterations in arginine vasopressin regulation and secretion have been proposed as one possible biochemical abnormality in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In golden hamsters, arginine vasopressin microinjections into the anterior hypothalamus trigger robust grooming and flank marking, a stereotyped scent marking behaviors. The intensity and repetition of the behaviors induced by arginine vasopressin is somewhat reminiscent of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in humans. The present experiments were carried out to test whether pharmacological agents used to alleviate obsessive compulsive disorder could inhibit arginine vasopressin-induced flank marking and grooming. RESULTS: Male golden hamsters were treated daily for two weeks with either vehicle, fluoxetine, clomipramine, or desipramine (an ineffective drug), before being tested for arginine vasopressin-induced flank marking and grooming. Flank marking was significantly inhibited in animals treated with fluoxetine or clomipramine but unaffected by treatment with desipramine. Grooming behavior was not affected by any treatment. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that arginine vasopressin-induced flank marking may serve as an animal model for screening drugs used in the control of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Assuntos
Arginina Vasopressina/fisiologia , Cabelo/fisiologia , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo/metabolismo , Pigmentação/fisiologia , Inibidores da Captação Adrenérgica/farmacologia , Agressão/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Arginina Vasopressina/farmacologia , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Clomipramina/farmacologia , Cricetinae , Desipramina/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Fluoxetina/farmacologia , Asseio Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipotálamo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipotálamo/metabolismo , Masculino , Microinjeções , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo/tratamento farmacológico , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo/genética , Pigmentação/efeitos dos fármacos , Agonistas do Receptor de Serotonina/farmacologia , Inibidores Seletivos de Recaptação de Serotonina/farmacologiaRESUMO
1. Serenity is an inner peace that is independent of external events. It often is desired by persons near death. 2. Information about nursing interventions to facilitate clients' serenity, however, is missing from the literature. 3. In the study presented, pain control, therapeutic touch, and assisting clients to build trust were the three highest-ranked interventions on both effectiveness and frequency of use.