Benzodiazepine/cholecystokinin interactions at functional CCK receptors in rat brain

Excitatory effect of ATP on acutely dissociated ventromedial hypothalamic neurons of the rat

The ATP-induced increase in the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca]i) and current in acutely dissociated ventromedial hypothalamic rats neurons were investigated using fura-2 microfluorometry and the nystatin-perforated patch recording method, respectively. The ATP-induced [Ca]i increase was mimicked by dimethyl-thio-ATP and ATPgammaS, and was inhibited by P2 purinoreceptor antagonists. The ATP-induced [Ca]i increase was markedly reduced by removal of external Na(+) or Ca(2+), and by addition of various Ca(2+) channel antagonists. ATP induced a transient inward current exhibiting a strong inward rectification at membrane potentials more positive than -20 mV. The ATP-induced current at a holding potential of -70 mV was concentration-dependent with a half-maximum effective concentration of 26 microM. Increasing the external Ca(2+) concentration to 10 mM shifted the dose-response relationship to the right. ATP induced only a small current and a small increase in [Ca]i, even at 10 mM Ca(2+), when external Na(+) was removed, suggesting the relatively low permeability to Ca(2+) of purinoceptor channels. These results suggest that ATP activates non-selective cation channels by acting on P2X purinoceptors on dissociated ventromedial hypothalamic neurons, which in turn increases [Ca]i by increasing Ca(2+) influx through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels.

Cholecystokinin B receptors in the periaqueductal gray potentiate defensive rage behavior elicited from the medial hypothalamus of the cat

Defensive rage behavior is mediated over a descending pathway from the medial hypothalamus to the dorsolateral midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) where further integration of this response takes place. The present study sought to determine the roles of CCK-A and CCK-B receptor activation in the PAG in modulating defensive rage behavior. The 'hissing' component of the defensive rage response was used throughout the experiment as the measure of defensive rage behavior. The basic design of the experiment involved placement of monopolar electrodes into the medial hypothalamus from which defensive rage could be elicited and cannula electrodes into the dorsal PAG for purposes of identifying defensive rage sites in this region and for microinjections of CCK compounds into these sites at a later time. Microinjections of the selective CCK-B receptor antagonist, LY288513 (1.05, 4.2, 17.0 nmol/0.25 microliter), into the PAG suppressed the hissing response in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Microinjections of the CCK-B agonist, pentagastrin, (0.5 and 1.0 nmol/0.25 microliter) facilitated the occurrence of defensive rage behavior. Moreover, administration of LY288513 (17 nmol/0.25 microliter) 55 min prior to pentagastrin (1.0 nmol/0.25 microliter) delivery blocked the facilitatory effects of pentagastrin. Administration of the CCK-A antagonist, PD140548 (34 nmol/0.25 microliter), into the PAG failed to alter response latencies for defensive rage behavior. In contrast, microinjections of the CCK-B antagonist, LY288513 (4.2, 17.0 nmol/0.25 microliter), facilitated the occurrence of predatory attack behavior elicited from the lateral hypothalamus. This finding demonstrates the specificity of the effects of CCK-B receptor blockade upon hissing. A combination of immunocytochemical and retrograde tracing procedures using microinjections of Fluoro-Gold (8%, 6 microliters) into the PAG were employed to identify the possible loci of CCK neurons that project to the PAG. The data revealed that neurons labeled for both CCK and Fluoro-Gold were located in the dorsolateral aspect of the midbrain tegmentum, identifying this region as a source of CCK inputs to the PAG. Overall, the findings demonstrate that CCK-B receptors in the PAG potentiate defensive rage behavior and likely suppress predatory attack.

Behavioral effects of CCKB receptor ligands in a validated simulation of panic anxiety in rats

Animals or human subjects receiving brain stimulation in the dorsal periaqueductal gray matter (dPAG) show sudden fear-suggestive behavioral reactions and physical signs of autonomic activation which are reminiscent of the symptom profile characterizing a panic attack. An experimental situation in rats measuring dPAG stimulation self-interruption thresholds has been validated as realistically simulating several aspects of panic anxiety with objective signs of symptomatic and predictive validity using established antipanic and panicogenic agents; it was utilized here to evaluate the effects of various cholecystokinin B receptor ligands. A dose-dependent increase in self-interruption thresholds (antipanic-like effect) was recorded following injection of L-365,260 (3.2, 10 and 32 mg/kg i.p.), a CCKB receptor antagonist with good brain penetration, whereas no significant changes in thresholds were recorded following CI-988 (3.2, 10 and 32 mg/kg i.p.), a dipeptoid CCKB receptor antagonist with poor brain penetration. Latencies for self-interruption were not modified, suggesting that motor functions remained intact. No significant changes in self-interruption thresholds were recorded following peripheral administration of the CCKB receptor agonists CCK4 (0.03 to 0.32 mg/kg i.v.; 0.01 to 3.2 mg/kg i.p.) or the metabolically stabilized analog Boc-CCK4 (0.1 to 10 mg/kg i.p.). Systemic administration of the panicogenic compounds caffeine and yohimbine enhance acute anxiety in this model. These data indicate that, in the dPAG simulation of panic anxiety, central CCKB receptor blockade by L-365,260 induces antiaversive effects analogous to those observed following benzodiazepine receptor activation by clonazepam or alprazolam. Potency and efficacy of L-365,260 were lower than those of clonazepam or alprazolam, suggesting modest, but nonetheless authentic, antiaversive properties for this CCKB receptor antagonist. Lack of effects observed following peripheral administration of the agonists CCK4, and Boc-CCK4 or of the dipeptoid antagonist CI-988 is likely to reflect restricted brain penetration of those compounds in rats; it furthermore excludes a contribution of peripheral gastrin and CCKA receptors to the antipanic-like properties of selective CCKB receptor antagonists such as L-365,260.