Functional Antagonism Between Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and Corticotropin-releasing Factor (CRF) in the Rat Brain: Evidence for Involvement of the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2007 Nov 9

PMID 17989958

Citations 33

Authors

Donata Rodi

Silvia Zucchini

Michele Simonato

Carlo Cifani

Maurizio Massi

Carlo Polidori

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rationale: Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) has been proposed to be a functional antagonist of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in relation to its anti-stress action and its ability to antagonize the anorectic effect of CRF in rats without exhibiting affinity for CRF receptors. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) is highly sensitive to the inhibitory effect of N/OFQ on CRF-induced anorexia.

Objective: The present study was aimed at further evaluating the role of the BST in the functional antagonism between N/OFQ and CRF by examining it at molecular level and in the context of CRF-induced anxiety in the rat.

Materials And Methods: First, in situ hybridization experiments investigated the expression of the pro-N/OFQ precursor and of NOP receptors in several brain areas 6 h after injection of CRF (0.2 and 1 microg/rat) into the lateral cerebroventricle (LV). Second, the elevated plus maze test was used to evaluate whether N/OFQ, injected into the BST (0.05 and 0.5 microg/rat) or into the LV (0.5, 1.8, and 2.4 microg/rat), inhibits the anxiogenic-like effect evoked by LV injection of CRF (1 microg/rat) in rats.

Results: The in situ hybridization study showed that LV injection of CRF 1 microg/rat increases NOP receptor expression in the BST, while no change of the N/OFQ precursor was observed. On the other hand, N/OFQ injection into the BST blocks the anxiogenic effect of CRF at doses lower than those required by LV injection (0.5 vs 1.8 microg/rat, respectively).

Conclusion: These data provide further support for the hypothesis that N/OFQ may behave as functional antagonist of CRF and suggest that this antagonism may occur within the BST.

Citing Articles

Chronic stress-induced synaptic changes to corticotropin-releasing factor-signaling in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

Maita I, Roepke T, Samuels B Front Behav Neurosci. 2022; 16:903782.

PMID: 35983475 PMC: 9378865. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.903782.

Role of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ-NOP Receptor System in the Regulation of Stress-Related Disorders.

Ubaldi M, Cannella N, Borruto A, Petrella M, Micioni Di Bonaventura M, Soverchia L Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(23).

PMID: 34884757 PMC: 8657682. DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312956.

Dysregulation of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ and Dynorphin Systems in the Extended Amygdala of Alcohol Preferring Marchigian Sardinian (msP) Rats.

Caputi F, Stopponi S, Rullo L, Palmisano M, Ubaldi M, Candeletti S Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(5).

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Blockade of nociceptin/orphanin FQ signaling facilitates an active copying strategy due to acute and repeated stressful stimuli in mice.

Holanda V, Oliveira M, da Silva Junior E, Calo G, Ruzza C, Gavioli E Neurobiol Stress. 2020; 13:100255.

PMID: 33344710 PMC: 7739191. DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100255.

Blockade of NOP receptor modulates anxiety-related behaviors in mice exposed to inescapable stress.

Silva A, Holanda V, Azevedo Neto J, Silva Junior E, Soares-Rachetti V, Calo G Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020; 237(6):1633-1642.

PMID: 32095915 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05487-y.

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