Selectivity of d[Cha4]AVP and SSR149415 at human vasopressin and oxytocin receptors: evidence that SSR149415 is a mixed vasopressin V1b/oxytocin receptor antagonist

Characterization of rat gastric myogenic contractions and modulation by oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin

BACKGROUND

Interstitial cells of Cajal generate slow wave gastric electrical activity, initiating spontaneous muscle contractions. This becomes dysrhythmic during nausea when [Arg8]-vasopressin (AVP) is also released. In human stomach AVP increased spontaneous contraction activity and muscle tone, not neuronally-mediated contractions. Rodents cannot vomit, releasing the related hormone, oxytocin (OT) instead. We hypothesised that rat stomach would behave differently.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Spontaneous and electrically-evoked (EFS) contractions were measured in rat forestomach and antrum circular muscle. Custom software defined spontaneous contractions by analysing eight motility parameters.

RESULTS

The forestomach was quiescent. Irregular antrum contractions became regular adjacent to the pylorus (1.7 ± 0.4 mN; 1.2 ± 0.1 contractions/min, n = 12). These were unaffected by tetrodotoxin (10-6 M), atropine (10-6 M) and L-NAME (3 × 10-4 M). In both regions, AVP (pEC50∼9.0) and OT (∼0.5 log10-unit less potent) caused contraction (greater in antrum), competitively antagonized by, respectively, SR49059 (pKB∼9.5) and L371257 (pKB∼9.0), reduced by tetrodotoxin but unaffected by atropine. In the antrum, AVP and OT (∼2 log10-units less potent/efficacious) regularized and increased spontaneous contraction amplitude, frequency, rates of contraction/decay. In both regions, EFS-evoked contractions, abolished by atropine/tetrodotoxin, were reduced by AVP and OT, with AVP more potent and efficacious, particularly in forestomach.

CONCLUSION

Irregular spontaneous contractions of gastric antrum suggest variable ICC-muscle coupling. AVP and less potently, OT, enhanced frequency and force of contractions via V1A and OT receptors. Compared with human, differences in contraction regularity, potency and ability of AVP/OT to affect neuronal function suggests caution when using rat stomach to model ICC functions and nauseagenic stimuli.

The relationship between endogenous oxytocin and vasopressin levels and the Prader-Willi syndrome behaviour phenotype

Background

Oxytocin and vasopressin systems are altered in Prader Willi syndrome (PWS). However, investigations into endogenous oxytocin and vasopressin levels as well as clinical trials evaluating the effect of exogenous oxytocin on PWS symptoms have had mixed results. It is also unknown whether endogenous oxytocin and vasopressin levels are associated with certain PWS behaviours.

Method

We compared plasma oxytocin and vasopressin and saliva oxytocin levels in 30 adolescents and adults with PWS to 30 typically developing age-matched controls. We also compared neuropeptide levels between gender and genetic subtypes within the PWS cohort and examined the relationship between neuropeptide levels and PWS behaviours.

Results

While we did not measure a group difference in plasma or saliva oxytocin levels, plasma vasopressin was significantly lower in individuals with PWS compared to controls. Within the PWS cohort, saliva oxytocin levels were higher in females compared to males and individuals with the mUPD compared to the deletion genetic subtype. We also found the neuropeptides correlated with different PWS behaviours for males and females and for genetic subtypes. For the deletion group, higher plasma and saliva oxytocin levels were related to fewer behaviour problems. For the mUPD group, higher plasma vasopressin levels were related to more behaviour problems.

Conclusion

These findings support existing evidence of a vasopressin system defect in PWS and for the first time identify potential differences in the oxytocin and vasopressin systems across PWS genetic subtypes.

Synergistic augmentation of rhythmic myogenic contractions of human stomach by arginine vasopressin and adrenaline: Implications for the induction of nausea

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Nausea is associated with the hormonal secretion of vasopressin and adrenaline, although their actions in inducing nausea is poorly understood. Here, we have investigated their actions on human stomach muscle.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Muscle strips were suspended in tissue baths and neuronal-/non-neuronally-mediated contractions were measured. Custom software analysed eight motility parameters defining spontaneous phasic non-neuronally mediated contractions. Receptor distributions were assessed by qPCR and immunofluorescence.

KEY RESULTS

V_1A receptors and α₁ -adrenoceptors were located on muscle as well as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). Myogenic contractions of human proximal and distal stomach (respectively, 2.6 ± 0.1 and 2.7 ± 0.0 per minute; n = 44) were larger in the distal area (1.1 ± 0.1 and 5.0 ± 0.1 mN), developing relatively slowly (proximal) or rapidly (distal). Vasopressin caused tonic (proximal) or short-lived (distal) increases in muscle tone and increased myogenic contraction amplitude, frequency and rate (acting at V_1A receptors; thresholds 10^-11 -10^-10  M); by contrast, cholinergically mediated contractions were unaffected. Oxytocin acted similarly to vasopressin but less potently, at OT receptors). Adrenaline increased (10^-10 -10^-5  M; α₁ -adrenoceptors) and decreased (≥10^-6  M; β-adrenoceptors) muscle tone and enhanced/reduced myogenic contractions. Cholinergically mediated contractions were reduced (α₂ -adrenoceptors). Combined, vasopressin (10^-9  M) and adrenaline (10^-8  M) increased muscle tone and phasic myogenic activity in a synergistic manner.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Vasopressin and adrenaline increased human gastric tone and myogenic contraction amplitude, rate of contraction and frequency. In combination, their actions were further increased in a synergistic manner. Such activity may promote nausea.

Oxytocin and vasopressin in the hippocampus

Oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) are related neuropeptides that exert a wide range of effects on general health, homeostasis, development, reproduction, adaptability, cognition, social and nonsocial behaviors. The two peptides are mainly of hypothalamic origin and execute their peripheral and central physiological roles via OXT and AVP receptors, which are members of the G protein-coupled receptor family. These receptors, largely distributed in the body, are abundantly expressed in the hippocampus, a brain region particularly vulnerable to stress exposure and various lesions. OXT and AVP have important roles in the hippocampus, by modulating important processes like neuronal excitability, network oscillatory activity, synaptic plasticity, and social recognition memory. This chapter includes an overview regarding OXT and AVP structure, synthesis, receptor distribution, and functions, focusing on their relationship with the hippocampus and mechanisms by which they influence hippocampal activity. Brief information regarding hippocampal structure and susceptibility to lesions is also provided. The roles of OXT and AVP in neurodevelopment and adult central nervous system function and disorders are highlighted, discussing their potential use as targeted therapeutic tools in neuropsychiatric diseases.

Pharmacological chaperones for the oxytocin receptor increase oxytocin responsiveness in myometrial cells

Oxytocin is a potent uterotonic agent administered to nearly all patients during childbirth in the United States. Inadequate oxytocin response can necessitate Cesarean delivery or lead to uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage. Thus, it may be clinically useful to identify patients at risk for poor oxytocin response and develop strategies to sensitize the uterus to oxytocin. Previously, we showed that the V281M variant in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene impairs OXTR trafficking to the cell surface, leading to a decreased oxytocin response in cells. Here, we sought to identify pharmacological chaperones that increased oxytocin response in cells expressing WT or V281M OXTR. We screened nine small-molecule agonists and antagonists of the oxytocin/vasopressin receptor family and identified two, SR49059 and L371,257, that restored both OXTR trafficking and oxytocin response in HEK293T cells transfected with V281M OXTR. In hTERT-immortalized human myometrial cells, which endogenously express WT OXTR, treatment with SR49059 and L371,257 increased the amount of OXTR on the cell surface by two- to fourfold. Furthermore, SR49059 and L371,257 increased the endogenous oxytocin response in hTERT-immortalized human myometrial cells by 35% and induced robust oxytocin responses in primary myometrial cells obtained from patients at the time of Cesarean section. If future studies demonstrate that these pharmacological chaperones or related compounds function similarly in vivo, we propose that they could potentially be used to enhance clinical response to oxytocin.

Vasopressin V1B Receptor Antagonists as Potential Antidepressants

Accumulating evidence shows that certain populations of depressed patients have impaired hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is one of the primary factors in HPA axis regulation under stress situations, and AVP and its receptor subtype (V1B receptor) play a pivotal role in HPA axis abnormalities observed in depression. Based on this hypothesis, several non-peptide V1B receptor antagonists have been synthesized, and the efficacies of some V1B receptor antagonists have been investigated in both animals and humans. V1B receptor antagonists exert antidepressant-like effects in several animal models at doses that attenuate the hyperactivity of the HPA axis, and some of their detailed mechanisms have been delineated. These results obtained in animal models were, at least partly, reproduced in clinical trials. At least 2 V1B receptor antagonists (TS-121 and ABT-436) showed tendencies to reduce the depression scores of patients with major depressive disorder at doses that attenuate HPA axis hyperactivity or block the pituitary V1B receptor. Importantly, TS-121 showed a clearer efficacy for patients with higher basal cortisol levels than for those with lower basal cortisol levels, which was consistent with the hypothesis that V1B receptor antagonists may be more effective for patients with HPA axis hyperactivity. Therefore, V1B receptor antagonists are promising approaches for the treatment of depression involving HPA axis impairment such as depression.

The Biology of Vasopressin

Vasopressins are evolutionarily conserved peptide hormones. Mammalian vasopressin functions systemically as an antidiuretic and regulator of blood and cardiac flow essential for adapting to terrestrial environments. Moreover, vasopressin acts centrally as a neurohormone involved in social and parental behavior and stress response. Vasopressin synthesis in several cell types, storage in intracellular vesicles, and release in response to physiological stimuli are highly regulated and mediated by three distinct G protein coupled receptors. Other receptors may bind or cross-bind vasopressin. Vasopressin is regulated spatially and temporally through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, sex, tissue, and cell-specific receptor expression. Anomalies of vasopressin signaling have been observed in polycystic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Growing knowledge of the central biological roles of vasopressin has enabled pharmacological advances to treat these conditions by targeting defective systemic or central pathways utilizing specific agonists and antagonists.

Social Context, Stress, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, and the Vasopressin 1b Receptor

The arginine vasopressin 1b receptor (Avpr1b) is involved in the modulation of a variety of behaviors and is an important part of the mammalian hormonal stress axis. The Avpr1b is prominent in hippocampal CA2 pyramidal cells and in the anterior pituitary corticotrophs. Decades of research on this receptor has demonstrated its importance to the modulation of social recognition memory, social forms of aggression, and modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, particularly under conditions of acute stress. Further, work in humans suggests that the Avpr1b may play a role in human neuropsychiatric disorders and its modulation may have therapeutic potential. This paper reviews what is known about the role of the Avpr1b in the context of social behaviors, the stress axis, and human neuropsychiatric disorders. Further, possible mechanisms for how Avpr1b activation within the hippocampus vs. Avpr1b activation within anterior pituitary may interact with one another to affect behavioral output are proposed.

TASP0434299: A Novel Pyridopyrimidin-4-One Derivative as a Radioligand for Vasopressin V1B Receptor

A novel pyridopyrimidin-4-one derivative, N-tert-butyl-2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-6-[3-(morpholin-4-yl)propoxy]-4-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-3(4H)-yl]acetamide (TASP0434299), was characterized as a radioligand candidate for arginine vasopressin 1B (V1B) receptor. TASP0434299 exhibited high binding affinities for human and rat V1B receptors with IC50 values of 0.526 and 0.641 nM, respectively, and potent antagonistic activity at the human V1B receptor with an IC50 value of 0.639 nM without apparent binding affinities for other molecules at 1 μM. [(3)H]TASP0434299 bound to membranes expressing the human V1B receptor as well as those prepared from the rat anterior pituitary in a saturable manner. The binding of [(3)H]TASP0434299 to the membranes was dose-dependently displaced by several ligands for the V1B receptor. In addition, the intravenous administration of [(3)H]TASP0434299 to rats produced a saturable radioactive accumulation in the anterior pituitary where the V1B receptor is enriched, and it was dose-dependently blocked by the oral administration of 2-[2-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-6-[3-(morpholin-4-yl)propoxy]-4-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-3(4H)-yl]-N-isopropylacetamide hydrochloride, a V1B receptor antagonist, indicating that [(3)H]TASP0434299 can be used as an in vivo radiotracer to measure the occupancy of the V1B receptor. Finally, the intravenous administration of [(11)C]TASP0434299 provided positron emission tomographic images of the V1B receptor in the pituitary in an anesthetized monkey, and the signal was blocked by pretreatment with an excess of unlabeled TASP0434299. These results indicate that radiolabeled TASP0434299 is the first radioligand to be capable of quantifying the V1B receptor selectively in both in vitro and in vivo studies and will provide a clinical biomarker for determining the occupancy of the V1B receptor during drug development or for monitoring the levels of the V1B receptor in diseased conditions.

Antagonism of V1b receptors promotes maternal motivation to retrieve pups in the MPOA and impairs pup-directed behavior during maternal defense in the mpBNST of lactating rats

Recent studies using V1b receptor (V1bR) knockout mice or central pharmacological manipulations in lactating rats highlighted the influence of this receptor for maternal behavior. However, its role in specific brain sites known to be important for maternal behavior has not been investigated to date. In the present study, we reveal that V1bR mRNA (qPCR) and protein levels (Western blot) within either the medial preoptic area (MPOA) or the medial-posterior part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (mpBNST) did not differ between virgin and lactating rats. Furthermore, we characterized the effects of V1bR blockade via bilateral injections of the receptor subtype-specific antagonist SSR149415 within the MPOA or the mpBNST on maternal behavior (maternal care under non-stress and stress conditions, maternal motivation to retrieve pups in a novel environment, maternal aggression) and anxiety-related behavior in lactating rats. Blocking V1bR within the MPOA increased pup retrieval, whereas within the mpBNST it decreased pup-directed behavior, specifically licking/grooming the pups, during the maternal defense test. In addition, immediately after termination of the maternal defense test, V1bR antagonism in both brain regions reduced nursing, particularly arched back nursing. Anxiety-related behavior was not affected by V1bR antagonism in either brain region. In conclusion our data indicate that V1bR antagonism significantly modulates different aspects of maternal behavior in a brain region-dependent manner.

Antidepressant and anxiolytic profiles of newly synthesized arginine vasopressin V1B receptor antagonists: TASP0233278 and TASP0390325

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Vasopressin V1B receptor antagonists may be effective for the treatment of depression and anxiety and the objective of this study was to characterize the pharmacological profiles of two newly synthesized arginine vasopressin receptor 1B (V1B receptor) antagonists, TASP0233278 and TASP0390325.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We investigated the in vitro profiles of TASP0233278 and TASP0390325. In addition, the effect of TASP0390325 on the increase in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels induced by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)/desmopressin (dDAVP) was investigated. We also investigated the antidepressant and anxiolytic profiles of TASP0233278 and TASP0390325 in animal models.

KEY RESULTS

Both TASP0233278 and TASP0390325 showed a high affinity and potent antagonist activity for V1B receptors. Oral administration of TASP0390325 antagonized the increase in plasma ACTH levels induced by CRF/dDAVP in rats, indicating that TASP0390325 blocks the anterior pituitary V1B receptor in vivo. Oral administration of TASP0233278 or TASP0390325 also exerted antidepressant effects in two models of depression (a forced swimming test and an olfactory bulbectomy model). Moreover, TASP0233278 improved depressive-like behaviour induced by repeated treatment with corticosterone, a model that has been shown to be resistant to treatment with currently prescribed antidepressants. In addition to depression models, TASP0233278 or TASP0390325 exerted anxiolytic effects in several anxiety models (social interaction, elevated plus-maze, stress-induced hyperthermia, separation-induced ultrasonic vocalization and sodium lactate-induced panic-like responses in panic-prone rats).

CONCLUSION

TASP0233278 and TASP0390325 are potent and orally active V1B receptor antagonists with antidepressant and anxiolytic activities in rodents.

Central V1b receptor antagonism in lactating rats: impairment of maternal care but not of maternal aggression

Maternal behaviour in rodents is mediated by the central oxytocin and vasopressin systems, amongst others. The role of vasopressin, acting via the V1a receptor (V1aR), on maternal care and maternal aggression has recently been described. However, a potential involvement of the V1b receptor (V1bR) in maternal behaviour has only been demonstrated in knockout mice. The present study aimed to examine the effects of central pharmacological manipulation of the V1bR on maternal behaviour in lactating Wistar rats. On pregnancy day 18, female rats were implanted with a guide cannula targeting the lateral ventricle. After parturition, dams received an acute central infusion of a specific V1bR agonist (d[Leu4,Lys8]VP) or V1bR antagonist (SSR149415) once daily, followed by observations of maternal care [lactation day (LD) 1], maternal motivation in the pup retrieval test (LD 2), anxiety-related behaviour on the elevated plus-maze (LD 3) and maternal aggression in the maternal defence test followed by maternal care monitoring (LD 4). Our data demonstrate that, under nonstress conditions, the V1bR antagonist decreased the occurrence of both nursing and mother-pup interaction, whereas the V1bR agonist did not affect either parameter. Under stress conditions (i.e. after the maternal defence test), mother-pup interaction was decreased by infusion of the V1bR antagonist. During the maternal defence test, neither treatment affected aggressive or non-aggressive behaviour. Finally, neither treatment altered maternal motivation or anxiety. In conclusion, central V1bR antagonism modulates aspects of maternal care but not of maternal aggression or maternal motivation in lactating rats. These findings further extend our knowledge on the vasopressin system as a vital mediator of maternal behaviour.

Pharmacological characterization of FE 201874, the first selective high affinity rat V1A vasopressin receptor agonist

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Distinct vasopressin receptors are involved in different physiological and behavioural functions. Presently, no selective agonist is available to specifically elucidate the functional roles of the V1A receptor in the rat, one of the most widely used animal models. FE 201874 is a new derivative of the human selective V1A receptor agonist F180. In this study, we performed a multi-approach pharmacological and functional characterization of FE 201874 to determine whether it is selective for V1A receptors.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We modified an available human selective V1A receptor agonist (F180) and determined its pharmacological properties in cell lines expressing vasopressin/oxytocin receptors (affinity and coupling to second messenger cascades), in an ex vivo model (aorta ring contraction) and in vivo in rats (proliferation of adrenal cortex glomerulosa cells and lactation).

KEY RESULTS

FE 201874 exhibited nanomolar affinity for the rat V1A receptor; it was highly selective towards the rat V1B and V2 vasopressin receptors and behaved as a full V1A agonist in all the pharmacological tests performed. FE 201874 bound to the oxytocin receptor, but with moderate affinity, and behaved as an oxytocin antagonist in vitro, but not in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

On functional grounds, all the data demonstrate that FE 201874 is the first selective agonist of the rat V1A receptor isoform available. Hence, FE 201874 may have potential as a treatment for the vasodilator-induced hypotension occurring in conditions such as septic shock and could be the most suitable compound for discriminating between the behavioural effects of arginine vasopressin and oxytocin.

Interaction of stress, corticotropin-releasing factor, arginine vasopressin and behaviour

Stress mediates the activation of a variety of systems ranging from inflammatory to behavioral responses. In this review we focus on two neuropeptide systems, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), and their roles in regulating stress responses. Both peptides have been demonstrated to be involved in anxiogenic and depressive effects, actions mediated in part through their regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Because of the depressive effects of CRF and AVP, drugs modifying the stress-associated detrimental actions of CRF and AVP are under development, particularly drugs antagonizing CRF and AVP receptors for therapy in depression.

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14: G protein-coupled receptors

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2013/14 provides concise overviews of the key properties of over 2000 human drug targets with their pharmacology, plus links to an open access knowledgebase of drug targets and their ligands (www.guidetopharmacology.org), which provides more detailed views of target and ligand properties. The full contents can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.12444/full. G protein-coupled receptors are one of the seven major pharmacological targets into which the Guide is divided, with the others being G protein-coupled receptors, ligand-gated ion channels, ion channels, catalytic receptors, nuclear hormone receptors, transporters and enzymes. These are presented with nomenclature guidance and summary information on the best available pharmacological tools, alongside key references and suggestions for further reading. A new landscape format has easy to use tables comparing related targets. It is a condensed version of material contemporary to late 2013, which is presented in greater detail and constantly updated on the website www.guidetopharmacology.org, superseding data presented in previous Guides to Receptors and Channels. It is produced in conjunction with NC-IUPHAR and provides the official IUPHAR classification and nomenclature for human drug targets, where appropriate. It consolidates information previously curated and displayed separately in IUPHAR-DB and the Guide to Receptors and Channels, providing a permanent, citable, point-in-time record that will survive database updates.

Novel oxytocin receptor agonists and antagonists: a patent review (2002 - 2013)

INTRODUCTION

Oxytocin is a nine amino acid cyclic peptide hormone with a high degree of uterotonic activity. The oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) is most strongly expressed in the uterus and mammary gland, but can also be found in regions of the brain, showing a neurotransmitter-like activity. The Oxtr knockout mice have no obvious defects in fertility or sexual behavior, but display aberrant social behavior. All of these suggest that Oxtr may become an important therapeutic target for the treatment of a wide range of conditions.

AREAS COVERED

This article will highlight the significant progress that has been made in the discovery and development of Oxtr agonists and antagonists in the patent literature between January 2002 and May 2013.

EXPERT OPINION

In the past decade, cumulative evidence supports the idea that activation of the Oxtr can have a positive effect upon human cognition and social behavior. The authors suggest that new agonists and antagonists may play an important role in the treatment of disorders such as anxiety, autism or schizophrenia. It may even be that older Oxtr agonists and antagonists, which were used to overcome labor-related dysfunction, may also have a significant impact on human social behavior.

Vasopressin V1a and V1b Receptors: From Molecules to Physiological Systems

The neurohypophysial hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) is essential for a wide range of physiological functions, including water reabsorption, cardiovascular homeostasis, hormone secretion, and social behavior. These and other actions of AVP are mediated by at least three distinct receptor subtypes: V1a, V1b, and V2. Although the antidiuretic action of AVP and V2 receptor in renal distal tubules and collecting ducts is relatively well understood, recent years have seen an increasing understanding of the physiological roles of V1a and V1b receptors. The V1a receptor is originally found in the vascular smooth muscle and the V1b receptor in the anterior pituitary. Deletion of V1a or V1b receptor genes in mice revealed that the contributions of these receptors extend far beyond cardiovascular or hormone-secreting functions. Together with extensively developed pharmacological tools, genetically altered rodent models have advanced the understanding of a variety of AVP systems. Our report reviews the findings in this important field by covering a wide range of research, from the molecular physiology of V1a and V1b receptors to studies on whole animals, including gene knockout/knockdown studies.

Balance of brain oxytocin and vasopressin: implications for anxiety, depression, and social behaviors

Oxytocin and vasopressin are regulators of anxiety, stress-coping, and sociality. They are released within hypothalamic and limbic areas from dendrites, axons, and perikarya independently of, or coordinated with, secretion from neurohypophysial terminals. Central oxytocin exerts anxiolytic and antidepressive effects, whereas vasopressin tends to show anxiogenic and depressive actions. Evidence from pharmacological and genetic association studies confirms their involvement in individual variation of emotional traits extending to psychopathology. Based on their opposing effects on emotional behaviors, we propose that a balanced activity of both brain neuropeptide systems is important for appropriate emotional behaviors. Shifting the balance between the neuropeptide systems towards oxytocin, by positive social stimuli and/or psychopharmacotherapy, may help to improve emotional behaviors and reinstate mental health.

Oxytocin and vasopressin agonists and antagonists as research tools and potential therapeutics

We recently reviewed the status of peptide and nonpeptide agonists and antagonists for the V(1a), V(1b) and V(2) receptors for arginine vasopressin (AVP) and the oxytocin receptor for oxytocin (OT). In the present review, we update the status of peptides and nonpeptides as: (i) research tools and (ii) therapeutic agents. We also present our recent findings on the design of fluorescent ligands for V(1b) receptor localisation and for OT receptor dimerisation. We note the exciting discoveries regarding two novel naturally occurring analogues of OT. Recent reports of a selective VP V(1a) agonist and a selective OT agonist point to the continued therapeutic potential of peptides in this field. To date, only two nonpeptides, the V(2) /V(1a) antagonist, conivaptan and the V(2) antagonist tolvaptan have received Food and Drug Administration approval for clinical use. The development of nonpeptide AVP V(1a), V(1b) and V(2) antagonists and OT agonists and antagonists has recently been abandoned by Merck, Sanofi and Pfizer. A promising OT antagonist, Retosiban, developed at Glaxo SmithKline is currently in a Phase II clinical trial for the prevention of premature labour. A number of the nonpeptide ligands that were not successful in clinical trials are proving to be valuable as research tools. Peptide agonists and antagonists continue to be very widely used as research tools in this field. In this regard, we present receptor data on some of the most widely used peptide and nonpeptide ligands, as a guide for their use, especially with regard to receptor selectivity and species differences.

The vasopressin 1b receptor and the neural regulation of social behavior

To date, much of the work in rodents implicating vasopressin (Avp) in the regulation of social behavior has focused on its action via the Avp 1a receptor (Avpr1a). However, there is mounting evidence that the Avp 1b receptor (Avpr1b) also plays a significant role in Avp's modulation of social behavior. The Avpr1b is heavily expressed on the anterior pituitary cortiocotrophs where it acts as an important modulator of the endocrine stress response. In the brain, the Avpr1b is prominent in the CA2 region of the hippocampus, but can also be found in areas such as the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and the olfactory bulb. Studies that have employed genetic knockouts or pharmacological manipulation of the Avpr1b point to the importance of central Avpr1b in the modulation of social behavior. However, there continues to be a knowledge gap in our understanding of where in the brain this is occurring, as well as how and if the central actions of Avp acting via the Avpr1b interact with the stress axis. In this review we focus on the genetic and pharmacological studies that have implicated the Avpr1b in the neural regulation of social behaviors, including social forms of aggressive behavior, social memory, and social motivation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.

Evidence that vasopressin V1b receptors mediate the transition to excessive drinking in ethanol-dependent rats

Alcoholism is a devastating condition that represents a progression from initial alcohol use to dependence. Although most individuals are capable of consuming alcohol in a limited fashion, the development of alcohol dependence in a subset of individuals is often associated with negative emotional states (including anxiety and depression). Since the alleviation of this negative motivational state via excessive alcohol consumption often becomes a central goal of alcoholics, the transition from initial use to dependence is postulated to be associated with a transition from positive to negative reinforcement mechanisms. Vasopressin is a neuropeptide known to potentiate the effects of CRF on the HPA axis, and emerging evidence also suggests a role for centrally located vasopressin acting on V(1b) receptors in the regulation of stress- and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. The present study determined state-dependent alterations in vasopressin/V(1b) R signaling in an animal model of ethanol dependence. The V(1b) R antagonist SSR149415 dose-dependently reduced excessive levels of ethanol self-administration observed in dependent animals without affecting the limited levels of ethanol drinking in non-dependent animals. Ethanol self-administration reduced V(1b) receptor levels in the basolateral amygdala of non-dependent animals, a neuroadaptation that could theoretically facilitate the positive reinforcing effects of alcohol. In contrast, V(1b) R levels were seemingly restored in ethanol-dependent rats, a switch that may in part underlie a transition from positive to negative reinforcement mechanisms with dependence. Together, our data suggest a key role for vasopressin/V(1b) R signaling in the transition to ethanol dependence.

Effects of chronic social defeat on behavioral and neural correlates of sociality: Vasopressin, oxytocin and the vasopressinergic V1b receptor

Chronic social stress in rodents produces behavioral and neuroendocrine patterns analogous to symptoms associated with psychopathologies in humans. Chronic social defeat in mice has been used to study the genetic and epigenetic precursors of stress-related social disorders. The neuropeptides arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) are released in central targets to modulate anti- and pro-social behaviors, respectively. AVP binds to V1a and V1b receptors (V1bRs) in discrete brain regions related to anxiety, depression and affiliative behaviors. Recent evidence suggests that V1bRs are involved in stress and anxiety and may be an attractive target for the treatment of associated disorders. In the present series of experiments, we aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic social defeat stress on: 1) anxiety-related behaviors in a social investigation paradigm and their potential modulation by an acute dose of SSR149415, a V1bR antagonist; 2) AVP and Fos protein levels in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and; 3) AVP- and OT-receptor (OTR) mRNA levels in brain regions associated with sociality. When compared to undefeated animals, socially defeated mice exhibited an anxiogenic behavioral profile towards a novel male conspecific, with SSR149415 partly attenuating these effects. Histochemistry using immunofluorescence showed defeat produced significant elevations of Fos and double labeling of AVP and Fos proteins in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). SSR149415 attenuated the effects of defeat on Fos and AVP/Fos double labeling, consistent with an anxiolytic effect. Defeated mice showed elevated levels of OTR mRNA levels in the lateral septum (LS) in addition to increased V1bR and OTR mRNA in the medial amygdala (MeA). We suggest the involvement of V1bRs and OTRs in a circuit involving the PVN, MeA and LS in the effects of defeat on sociality. SSR149415 attenuated anxiogenesis in the social investigation model and both Fos and AVP/Fos labeling, suggesting V1bRs are an attractive target for the treatment of anxiety in general and disorders of sociality in particular.

The vasopressin Avpr1b receptor: molecular and pharmacological studies

The distribution, pharmacology and function of the arginine vasopressin (Avp) 1b receptor subtype (Avpr1b) has proved more challenging to investigate compared to other members of the Avp receptor family. Avp is increasingly recognised as an important modulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, an action mediated by the Avpr1b present on anterior pituitary corticotrophs. The Avpr1b is also expressed in some peripheral tissues including pancreas and adrenal, and in the hippocampus (HIP), paraventricular nucleus and olfactory bulb of the rodent brain where its function is unknown. The central distribution of Avpr1bs is far more restricted than that of the Avpr1a, the main Avp receptor subtype found in the brain. Whether Avpr1b expression in rodent tissues is dependent on differences in the length of microsatellite dinucleotide repeats present in the 5' promoter region of the Avpr1b gene remains to be determined. One difficulty of functional studies on the Avpr1b, especially its involvement in the HPA axis response to stress, which prompted the generation of Avpr1b knockout (KO) mouse models, was the shortage of commercially available Avpr1b ligands, particularly antagonists. Research on mice lacking functional Avpr1bs has highlighted behavioural deficits in social memory and aggression. The Avpr1b KO also appears to be an excellent model to study the contribution of the Avpr1b in the HPA axis response to acute and perhaps some chronic (repeated) stressors where corticotrophin-releasing hormone and other genes involved in the HPA axis response to stress do not appear to compensate for the loss of the Avpr1b.

Attenuated stress response to acute restraint and forced swimming stress in arginine vasopressin 1b receptor subtype (Avpr1b) receptor knockout mice and wild-type mice treated with a novel Avpr1b receptor antagonist

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) synthesised in the parvocellular region of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and released into the pituitary portal vessels acts on the 1b receptor subtype (Avpr1b) present in anterior pituitary corticotrophs to modulate the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Corticotrophin-releasing hormone is considered the major drive behind ACTH release; however, its action is augmented synergistically by AVP. To determine the extent of vasopressinergic influence in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to restraint and forced swimming stress, we compared the stress hormone levels [plasma ACTH in both stressors and corticosterone (CORT) in restraint stress only] following acute stress in mutant Avpr1b knockout (KO) mice compared to their wild-type controls following the administration of a novel Avpr1b antagonist. Restraint and forced swimming stress-induced increases in plasma ACTH were significantly diminished in mice lacking a functional Avpr1b and in wild-type mice that had been pre-treated with Avpr1b antagonist. A corresponding decrease in plasma CORT levels was also observed in acute restraint-stressed knockout male mice, and in Avpr1b-antagonist-treated male wild-type mice. By contrast, plasma CORT levels were not reduced in acutely restraint-stressed female knockout animals, or in female wild-type animals pre-treated with Avpr1b antagonist. These results demonstrate that pharmacological antagonism or inactivation of Avpr1b causes a reduction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response, particularly ACTH, to acute restraint and forced swimming stress, and show that Avpr1b knockout mice constitute a model by which to study the contribution of Avpr1b to the HPA axis response to acute stressors.

Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazine: novel, potent, and selective series of Vasopressin 1b receptor antagonists

Novel series of pyrrole-pyrazinone and pyrazole-pyrazinone have been identified as potent and selective Vasopressin(1b) receptor antagonists. Exploration of the substitution pattern around the core of these templates allowed generation of compounds with high inhibitory potency at the Vasopressin(1b) receptor, including examples that showed good selectivity with respect to Vasopressin(1a), Vasopressin(2), and Oxytocin receptor subtypes.

Tetrahydroquinoline sulfonamides as vasopressin 1b receptor antagonists

Vasopressin 1b (V1b) antagonists have been postulated as possible treatments for depression and anxiety. A novel series of potent and selective V1b antagonists has been identified starting from an in-house screen hit. The incorporation of a sulfonamide linker between a tetrahydroisoquinoline core and amino piperidine lead to the identification of a V1b antagonist with similar affinity for human and rat receptors. Further optimization of the right hand portion afforded potent V1b antagonists that possessed moderate to high selectivity over other receptors.

Depression and antidepressants: molecular and cellular aspects

Clinical depression is viewed as a physical and psychic disease process having a neuropathological basis, although a clear understanding of its ethiopathology is still missing. The observation that depressive symptoms are influenced by pharmacological manipulation of monoamines led to the hypothesis that depression results from reduced availability or functional deficiency of monoaminergic transmitters in some cerebral regions. However, there are limitations to current monoamine theories related to mood disorders. Recently, a growing body of experimental data has showed that other classes of endogenous compounds, such as neuropeptides and amino acids, may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of affective disorders. With the development of neuroscience, neuronal networks and intracellular pathways have been identified and characterized, describing the existence of the interaction between monoamines and receptors in turn able to modulate the expression of intracellular proteins and neurotrophic factors, suggesting that depression/antidepressants may be intermingled with neurogenesis/neurodegenerative processes.

Innovative approaches for the treatment of depression: targeting the HPA axis

Altered activity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the most commonly observed neuroendocrine abnormalities in patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). Altered cortisol secretion can be found in as many as 80% of depressed patients. This observation has led to intensive clinical and preclinical research aiming to better understand the molecular mechanisms which underlie the alteration of the HPA axis responsiveness in depressive illness. Dysfunctional glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mediated negative feedback regulation of cortisol levels and changes in arginine vasopressin (AVP)/vasopressin V1b receptor and corticotrophin-releasing factor/CRF1 receptor regulation of adrenocotricotrophin (ACTH) release have all been implicated in over-activity of the HPA axis. Agents that intervene with the mechanisms involved in (dys)regulation of cortisol synthesis and release are under investigation as possible therapeutic agents. The current status of some of these approaches is described in this review.

Toward efficient drug screening by homogeneous assays based on the development of new fluorescent vasopressin and oxytocin receptor ligands

A series of fluorescent ligands designed for vasopressin and oxytocin G protein-coupled receptors was synthesized and characterized to develop fluorescence polarization or homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) binding assays. These ligands, labeled with europium pyridine-bis-bipyridine cryptate or with Alexa 488,546,647 selectively bound to the vasopressin V1a and oxytocin receptors with high affinities and exhibited antagonistic properties. The affinities of several unlabeled ligands determined by our homogeneous assays on membrane preparations or on intact cells into 96- and 384-well plate formats were similar to those determined by usual radioligand binding methods. Compared to other binding assays, the polarization and HTRF binding assays are nonradiaoactive, therefore safer to perform, yet very sensitive and homogeneous, therefore easier and faster to automate. These methods are thus suitable for efficient drug high-throughput screening procedures and can easily be applied to other G protein-coupled receptor models.

Pharmacological and physiological characterization of d[Leu4, Lys8]vasopressin, the first V1b-selective agonist for rat vasopressin/oxytocin receptors

Recently, we synthesized and characterized the first selective V(1b) vasopressin (VP)/oxytocin receptor agonist, d[Cha(4)]arginine vasopressin. However, this agonist was only selective for the human receptors. We thus decided to design a selective V(1b) agonist for the rodent species. We started from previous observations showing that modifying [deamino(1),Arg(8)]VP in positions 4 and 8 altered the rat VP/oxytocin receptor selectivity. We synthesized a series of 13 [deamino(1),Arg(8)]VP analogs modified in positions 4 and 8. Among them, one seemed very promising, d[Leu(4), Lys(8)]VP. In this paper, we describe its pharmacological and physiological properties. This analog exhibited a nanomolar affinity for the rat, human, and mouse V(1b) VP receptors and a strong V(1b) selectivity for the rat species. On AtT20 cells stably transfected with the rat V(1b) receptor, d[Leu(4), Lys(8)]VP behaved as a full agonist on both phospholipase C and MAPK assays. Additional experiments revealed its ability to induce the internalization of enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged human and mouse V(1b) receptors as expected for a full agonist. Additional physiological experiments were performed to further confirm the selectivity of this peptide. Its antidiuretic, vasopressor, and in vitro oxytocic activities were weak compared with those of VP. In contrast, used at low doses, its efficiency to stimulate adrenocorticotropin or insulin release from mouse pituitary or perfused rat pancreas, respectively, was similar to that obtained with VP. In conclusion, d[Leu(4), Lys(8)]VP is the first selective agonist available for the rat V(1b) VP receptor. It will allow a better understanding of V(1b) receptor-mediated effects in rodents.

Biological characterization of rodent and human vasopressin V1b receptors using SSR-149415, a nonpeptide V1b receptor ligand

[3H]SSR-149415 is the first tritiated nonpeptide vasopressin V1b receptor (V1bR) antagonist ligand. It was used for studying rodent (mouse, rat, hamster) and human V1bR from native or recombinant origin. Moreover, a close comparison between the human and the mouse V1bR was performed using SSR-149415/[3H]SSR-149415 in binding and functional studies in vitro. [3H]SSR-149415 binding was time-dependent, reversible, and saturable. Scatchard plot analysis gave a single class of high-affinity binding sites with apparent equilibrium dissociation constant ( Kd) ∼1 nM and maximum binding density (Bmax) values from 7,000 to 300,000 sites/cell according to the cell line. In competition experiments, [3H]SSR-149415 binding was stereospecific and dose-dependently displaced by reference peptide and nonpeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP)/OT ligands following a V1b rank order of affinity: SSR-149415 = AVP > dCha > dPen > dPal > dDavp > SSR-126768A > SR-49059 > SSR-149424 > OT > SR-121463B. Species differences between human, rat, mouse, and hamster V1bR were observed. Autoradiography studies with [3H]SSR-149415 on rat and human pituitary showed intense specific labeling confined to corticotroph cells and absence of labeling in the other tissues examined. SSR-149415 potently and stereospecifically antagonized the AVP-induced inositol phosphate production and intracellular Ca2+ increase (EC50 from 1.83 to 3.05 nM) in recombinant cell lines expressing either the mouse or the human V1bR. AVP (10−7 M) exposure of AtT20 cells expressing mouse or human EGFP-tagged V1bR induced their rapid internalization. Preincubation with 10−6 M SSR-149415 counteracted the internalization process. Moreover, recycling of internalized receptors was observed upon 10−6 M SSR-149415 treatment. Thus SSR-149415/[3H]SSR-149415 are unique tools for studying animal and human V1bR.

Arginine vasopressin-mediated cardiac differentiation: insights into the role of its receptors and nitric oxide signaling

Despite the existence of a functional arginine vasopressin (AVP) system in the adult heart and evidence that AVP induces myogenesis, its significance in cardiomyogenesis is currently unknown. In the present study, we hypothesized a role for AVP in cardiac differentiation of D3 and lineage-specific embryonic stem (ES) cells expressing green fluorescent protein under the control of atrial natriuretic peptide (Anp) or myosin light chain-2V (Mlc-2V) promoters. Furthermore, we investigated the nitric oxide (NO) involvement in AVP-mediated pathways. AVP exposure increased the number of beating embryoid bodies, fluorescent cells, and expression of Gata-4 and other cardiac genes. V1a and V2 receptors (V1aR and V2R) differentially mediated these effects in transgenic ES cells, and exhibited a distinct developmentally regulated mRNA expression pattern. A NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME, powerfully antagonized the AVP-induced effects on cardiogenic differentiation, implicating NO signaling in AVP-mediated pathways. Indeed, AVP elevated the mRNA and protein levels of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) through V2R stimulation. Remarkably, increased beating activity was found in AVP-treated ES cells with down-regulated eNOS expression, indicating the significant involvement of additional pathways in cardiomyogenic effects of AVP. Finally, patch clamp recordings revealed specific AVP-induced changes of action potentials and increased L-type Ca2+ (ICa,L) current densities in differentiated ventricular phenotypes. Thus, AVP promotes cardiomyocyte differentiation of ES cells and involves Gata-4 and NO signaling. AVP-induced action potential prolongation appears likely to be linked to the increased ICa,L current in ventricular cells. In conclusion, this report provides new evidence for the essential role of the AVP system in ES cell-derived cardiomyogenesis.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress in mice lacking functional vasopressin V1b receptors

The role of arginine vasopressin (Avp) as an ACTH secretagogue is mediated by the Avp 1b receptor (Avpr1b) found on anterior pituitary corticotropes. Avp also potentiates the actions of CRH (Crh) and appears to be an important mediator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to chronic stress. To investigate the role of Avp in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress, we measured plasma ACTH and corticosterone (CORT) levels in Avpr1b knockout (KO) mice and wild-type controls in response to two acute (restraint and insulin administration) and one form of chronic (daily restraint for 14 d) stress. No significant difference was found in the basal plasma levels of ACTH and CORT between the two genotypes. Acute restraint (30 min) increased plasma ACTH and CORT to a similar level in both the Avpr1b mutant and wild-type mice. In contrast, plasma ACTH and CORT levels induced by hypoglycemia were significantly decreased in the Avpr1b KO mice when compared with wild-type littermates. There was no difference in the ACTH response to acute and chronic restraint in wild-type mice. In the Avpr1b KO group subjected to 14 sessions of daily restraint, plasma ACTH was decreased when compared with wild-type mice. On the other hand, the CORT elevations induced by restraint did not adapt in the Avpr1b KO or wild-type mice. The data suggest that the Avpr1b is required for the normal pituitary and adrenal response to some acute stressful stimuli and is necessary only for a normal ACTH response during chronic stress.

Design and Synthesis of the First Selective Agonists for the Rat Vasopressin V1bReceptor: Based on Modifications of Deamino-[Cys]arginine Vasopressin at Positions 4 and 8

The neurohypophyseal peptides arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) mediate a wide variety of peripheral and central physiological and behavioral effects by acting on four different G-protein coupled receptors, termed V1a (vascular), V1b (pituitary), V2 (renal), and OT (uterine). We recently reported that d[Cha4]AVP (A), d[Leu4]AVP (B), d[Orn4]AVP (C), and d[Arg4]AVP (D) have high affinity and are selective agonists for the human V1b receptor. However, peptides A-D were subsequently shown to be potent antidiuretic agonists in the rat and are, thus, not selective V1b agonists in the rat. Peptides A-D served as leads for the studies reported here. They were modified at position 8 by Lys, ornithine (Orn), diaminobutyric acid (Dab), and diaminopropionic acid (Dap) to give d[Cha4,Lys8]VP (1), d[Cha4,Orn8]VP (2), d[Cha4,Dab8]VP (3), d[Cha4,Dap8]VP (4), d[Leu4,Lys8]VP (5), d[Leu4,Orn8]VP (6), d[Leu4,Dab8]VP (7), d[Leu4,Dap8]VP (8), d[Orn4,Lys8]VP (9), d[Orn4,Orn8]VP (10), d[Arg4,Lys8]VP (11), d[Arg4,Orn8]VP (12), and d[Arg4,Dab8]VP (13). All peptides were synthesized by the Merrifield solid-phase method. Their binding and functional properties were evaluated in rat AVP V1a, V1b, and V2 receptors and on the rat OT receptor expressed either in native tissues or in stably transfected cells. They were also examined in rat vasopressor, antidiuretic, and in in vitro (no Mg++) oxytocic assays. Functional studies performed on chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the different AVP/OT receptors confirm that d[Cha4,Lys8]VP (1), d[Cha4,Dab8]VP (3), d[Leu4,Lys8]VP (5), and d[Leu4,Dap8]VP (8) are the first selective agonists for the rat V1b receptor. These selective V1b agonists are promising new tools for studies of the role of the V1b receptor in the rat.

Comparison of the V1b antagonist, SSR149415, and the CRF1 antagonist, CP-154,526, in rodent models of anxiety and depression

Vasopressin and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) are both critical regulators of an animal's stress response and have been linked to anxiety and depression. As such, antagonists of the CRF1 and V1b receptor subtypes are being developed as potential treatments for affective disorders. The two most characterized V1b and CRF1 antagonists are SSR149415 and CP-154,526, respectively, and the present studies were designed to compare these two compounds in acute animal models of affective disorders. We employed five anxiety models: Separation-induced pup vocalizations (guinea pig and rat), elevated plus-maze (EPM), conditioned lick suppression (CLS), and marble burying (mouse); as well as three depression models: forced swim test (FST; mouse and rat) and tail suspension test (TST; mouse). SSR149415 (1-30 mg/kg) was active in the vocalization, EPM and CLS models, but inactive in marble burying. CP-154,526 (1-30 mg/kg) was active in vocalization models, but inactive in EPM, CLS, and marble burying. SSR149415 was inactive in all depression models; CP-154,526 was active in rat FST but inactive in mouse models. This work demonstrates the different profiles of V1b and CRF1 receptor antagonists and supports both approaches in the treatment of affective disorders.

Probing the existence of G protein-coupled receptor dimers by positive and negative ligand-dependent cooperative binding

An increasing amount of ligand binding data on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is not compatible with the prediction of the simple mass action law. This may be related to the propensity of most GPCRs, if not all, to oligomerize. Indeed, one of the consequences of receptor oligomerization could be a possible cross-talk between the protomers, which in turn could lead to negative or positive cooperative ligand binding. We prove here that this can be demonstrated experimentally. Saturation, dissociation, and competition binding experiments were performed on vasopressin and oxytocin receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary or COS-7 cells. Linear, concave, and convex Scatchard plots were then obtained, depending on the ligand used. Moreover, some competition curves exhibited an increase of the radiotracer binding for low concentrations of competitors, suggesting a cooperative binding process. These data demonstrate that various vasopressin analogs display either positive or negative cooperative binding. Because positive cooperative binding cannot be explained without considering receptor as multivalent, these binding data support the concept of GPCR dimerization process. The results, which are in good accordance with the predictions of previous mathematical models, suggest that binding experiments can be used to probe the existence of receptor dimers.

The pituitary mediates the anxiolytic-like effects of the vasopressin V1B receptor antagonist, SSR149415, in a social interaction test in rats

A vasopressin V(1B) receptor antagonist has been shown to exhibit anxiolytic effects in a variety of animal models of anxiety. In the present study, we examined the involvement of the pituitary in the anxiolytic effects of a vasopressin V(1B) receptor antagonist by conducting a social interaction test in rats. In the sham-operated rats, both the vasopressin V(1B) receptor antagonist SSR149415 and the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide significantly increased the social behavior of a pair of unfamiliar rats, and the blood adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were markedly increased during the social interaction test. Hypophysectomy also increased the length of time that the animals engaged in social behavior to the same extent as that observed after treatment of the sham-operated rats with anxiolytics. However, while chlordiazepoxide further increased the duration of social interaction in the hypophysectomized rats, the anxiolytic effects of SSR149415 was no longer observed in these animals. These results suggest that the anxiolytic effects of the vasopressin V(1B) receptor antagonist in the social interaction test are mediated through blockade of the vasopressin V(1B) receptor in the pituitary.