Activation of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors at the infralimbic cortex elicits gastrin-releasing peptide release at the basolateral amygdala: implications for conditioned fear

Systematic review of drugs that modify the circadian system's phase-shifting responses to light exposure

We searched PubMed for primary research quantifying drug modification of light-induced circadian phase-shifting in rodents. This search, conducted for work published between 1960 and 2018, yielded a total of 146 papers reporting results from 901 studies. Relevant articles were those with any extractable data on phase resetting in wildtype (non-trait selected) rodents administered a drug, alongside a vehicle/control group, near or at the time of exposure. Most circadian pharmacology experiments were done using drugs thought to act directly on either the brain's central pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the SCN's primary relay, the retinohypothalamic tract, secondary pathways originating from the medial/dorsal raphe nuclei and intergeniculate leaflet, or the brain's sleep-arousal centers. While the neurotransmitter systems underlying these circuits were of particular interest, including those involving glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, serotonin, and acetylcholine, other signaling modalities have also been assessed, including agonists and antagonists of receptors linked to dopamine, histamine, endocannabinoids, adenosine, opioids, and second-messenger pathways downstream of glutamate receptor activation. In an effort to identify drugs that unduly influence circadian responses to light, we quantified the net effects of each drug class by ratioing the size of the phase-shift observed after administration to that observed with vehicle in a given experiment. This allowed us to organize data across the literature, compare the relative efficacy of one mechanism versus another, and clarify which drugs might best suppress or potentiate phase resetting. Aggregation of the available data in this manner suggested that several candidates might be clinically relevant as auxiliary treatments to suppress ectopic light responses during shiftwork or amplify the circadian effects of timed bright light therapy. Future empirical research will be necessary to validate these possibilities.

Gastrin-releasing peptide attenuates fear memory reconsolidation

BACKGROUND

Gastrin Releasing Peptide (GRP) may play a role in fear learning. The GRP Receptor is expressed in the basolateral amygdala and hippocampus, and central administration of GRP mediates fear learning. The effects of GRP on reconsolidation, however, have been minimally explored. Reconsolidation, the process by which formed memories are rendered labile following recall, provides a window of opportunity for pharmacological intervention. Although evidence suggests the window of opportunity to alter reactivated consolidation memory can be as long as 6 h, shorter intervals have not been extensively investigated.

METHOD

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received six 1.0 mA continuous footshocks. 24 h later, were re-exposed to the context (shock chamber). Immediately following memory retrieval rats received i.p. injection of GRP (10 nmol/kg), Flumazenil (1 mg/kg), GRP + Flumazenil (10 nmol/kg GRP with 1 mg/kg Flumazenil), or Vehicle. Other groups received GRP or Vehicle at 0, 10, 30, or 60 min post-reactivation. 24 h and 5 days later rats were assessed for fear expression upon re-exposure to the fearful stimulus.

RESULTS

GRP significantly attenuated the reconsolidation of learned fear when administered immediately (but not 10 min or longer) following recall. Some of the variability in the impact of treatments aimed at disrupting fear memories may be governed, in part, by the time-frame of the reconsolidation window. Our results indicate that the effect of immediate administration persisted for at least 5 days. Co-administration of benzodiazepine-receptor antagonist Flumazenil blocked this effect, suggesting the effect is mediated via a GABAergic mechanism.

Challenges for the in vivo quantification of brain neuropeptides using microdialysis sampling and LC-MS

In recent years, neuropeptides and their receptors have received an increased interest in neuropharmacological research. Although these molecules are considered relatively small compared with proteins, their in vivo quantification using microdialysis is more challenging than for small molecules. Low microdialysis recoveries, aspecific adsorption and the presence of various multiply charged precursor ions during ESI-MS/MS detection hampers the in vivo quantification of these low abundant biomolecules. Every step in the workflow, from sampling until analysis, has to be optimized to enable the sensitive analysis of these compounds in microdialysates.

Phase shifts to light are altered by antagonists to neuropeptide receptors

The mammalian circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a heterogeneous structure. Two key populations of cells that receive retinal input and are believed to participate in circadian responses to light are cells that contain vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). VIP acts primarily through the VPAC2 receptor, while GRP works primarily through the BB2 receptor. Both VIP and GRP phase shift the circadian clock in a manner similar to light when applied to the SCN, both in vivo and in vitro, indicating that they are sufficient to elicit photic-like phase shifts. However, it is not known if they are necessary signals for light to elicit phase shifts. Here we test the hypothesis that GRP and VIP are necessary signaling components for the photic phase shifting of the hamster circadian clock by examining two antagonists for each of these neuropeptides. The BB2 antagonist PD176252 had no effect on light-induced delays on its own, while the BB2 antagonist RC-3095 had the unexpected effect of significantly potentiating both phase delays and advances. Neither of the VIP antagonists ([d-p-Cl-Phe6, Leu17]-VIP, or PG99-465) altered phase shifting responses to light on their own. When the BB2 antagonist PD176252 and the VPAC2 antagonist PG99-465 were delivered together to the SCN, phase delays were significantly attenuated. These results indicate that photic phase shifting requires participation of either VIP or GRP; phase shifts to light are only impaired when signalling in both pathways are inhibited. Additionally, the unexpected potentiation of light-induced phase shifts by RC-3095 should be investigated further for potential chronobiotic applications.

Effects of intranasal and peripheral oxytocin or gastrin-releasing peptide administration on social interaction and corticosterone levels in rats

The intranasal route of drug administration has gained increased popularity as it is thought to allow large molecules, such as peptide hormones, more direct access to the brain, while limiting systemic exposure. Several studies have investigated the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration in humans as this peptide is associated with prosocial behavior. There are, however, few preclinical studies investigating the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration in rodents. Oxytocin modulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning and it has been suggested that oxytocin's ability to increase sociability may occur through a reduction in stress reactivity. Another peptide that appears to influence both social behavior and HPA axis activity is gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), but it is not known if these GRP-induced effects are related. With this in mind, in the present study, we assessed the effects of intranasal and intraperitoneal oxytocin and GRP administration on social interaction and release of corticosterone in rats. Intranasal and intraperitoneal administration of 20, but not 5 μg, of oxytocin significantly increased social interaction, whereas intranasal and peripheral administration of GRP (20 but not 5 μg) significantly decreased levels of social interaction. In addition, while intranasal oxytocin (20 μg) had no effect on blood corticosterone levels, a marked increase in blood corticosterone levels was observed following intraperitoneal oxytocin administration. With GRP, intranasal (20 μg) but not peripheral administration increased corticosterone levels. These findings provide further evidence that intranasal peptide delivery can induce behavioral alterations in rodents which is consistent with findings from human studies. In addition, the peptide-induced changes in social interaction were not linked to fluctuations in corticosterone levels.

A Stress-Related Peptide Bombesin Centrally Induces Frequent Urination through Brain Bombesin Receptor Types 1 and 2 in the Rat

Stress exacerbates symptoms of bladder dysfunction including overactive bladder and bladder pain syndrome, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Bombesin-like peptides and bombesin receptor types 1 and 2 (BB1 and BB2, respectively) in the brain have been implicated in the mediation/integration of stress responses. In this study, we examined effects of centrally administered bombesin on micturition, focusing on their dependence on 1) the sympathoadrenomedullary system (a representative mechanism activated by stress exposure) and 2) brain BB receptors in urethane-anesthetized (1.0-1.2 g/kg, i.p.) male rats. Intracerebroventricularly administered bombesin significantly shortened intercontraction intervals (ICI) at both doses (0.1 and 1 nmol/animal) without affecting maximal voiding pressure. Bombesin at 1 nmol induced significant increments of plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline levels, which were both abolished by acute bilateral adrenalectomy. On the other hand, adrenalectomy showed no effects on the bombesin-induced shortening of ICI. Much lower doses of bombesin (0.01 and 0.03 nmol/animal, i.c.v.) dose-dependently shortened ICI. Pretreatment with either a BB1 receptor antagonist (BIM-23127; d-Nal-cyclo[Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Orn-Val-Cys]-Nal-NH2; 3 nmol/animal, i.c.v.) or a BB2 receptor antagonist (BEA; H-d-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-NHEt; 3 nmol/animal, i.c.v.), respectively, suppressed the BB (0.03 nmol/animal, i.c.v.)-induced shortening of ICI, whereas each antagonist by itself (1 and 3 nmol/animal, i.c.v.) had no significant effects on ICI. Bombesin (0.03 nmol/animal, i.c.v.) significantly reduced voided volume per micturition and bladder capacity without affecting postvoid residual volume or voiding efficiency. These results suggest that brain bombesin and BB receptors are involved in facilitation of the rat micturition reflex to induce bladder overactivity, which is independent of the sympathoadrenomedullary outflow modulation.

Stress and eating: a dual role for bombesin-like peptides

The current obesity “epidemic” in the developed world is a major health concern; over half of adult Canadians are now classified as overweight or obese. Although the reasons for high obesity rates remain unknown, an important factor appears to be the role stressors play in overconsumption of food and weight gain. In this context, increased stressor exposure and/or perceived stress may influence eating behavior and food choices. Stress-induced anorexia is often noted in rats exposed to chronic stress (e.g., repeated restraint) and access to standard Chow diet; associated reduced consumption and weight loss. However, if a similar stressor exposure takes place in the presence of palatable, calorie dense food, rats often consume an increase proportion of palatable food relative to Chow, leading to weight gain and obesity. In humans, a similar desire to eat palatable or “comfort” foods has been noted under stressful situations; it is thought that this response may potentially be attributable to stress-buffering properties and/or through activation of reward pathways. The complex interplay between stress-induced anorexia and stress-induced obesity is discussed in terms of the overlapping circuitry and neurochemicals that mediate feeding, stress and reward pathways. In particular, this paper draws attention to the bombesin family of peptides (BBs) initially shown to regulate food intake and subsequently shown to mediate stress response as well. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that BBs may be involved in stress-induced anorexia under certain conditions, but that the same peptides could also be involved in stress-induced obesity. This hypothesis is based on the unique distribution of BBs in key cortico-limbic brain regions involved in food regulation, reward, incentive salience and motivationally driven behavior.

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor signaling in the integration of stress and memory

Neuropeptides act as signaling molecules that regulate a range of aspects of brain function. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a 27-amino acid mammalian neuropeptide, homolog of the amphibian peptide bombesin. GRP acts by binding to the GRP receptor (GRPR, also called BB2), a member of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. GRP produced by neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) plays a role in synaptic transmission by activating GRPRs located on postsynaptic membranes, influencing several aspects of brain function. Here we review the role of GRP/GRPR as a system mediating both stress responses and the formation and expression of memories for fearful events. GRPR signaling might integrate the processing of stress and fear with synaptic plasticity and memory, serving as an important component of the set of neurobiological systems underlying the enhancement of memory storage by aversive information.