Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats.
BACKGROUND: It is well known progesterone can have anxiolytic-like effects in animals in a number of different behavioral testing paradigms. Although progesterone is known to influence physiology and behavior by binding to classical intracellular progestin receptors, progesterone's anxiety redu...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2008-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2574412?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1819131114844848128 |
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| author | Catherine J Auger Robin M Forbes-Lorman |
| author_facet | Catherine J Auger Robin M Forbes-Lorman |
| author_sort | Catherine J Auger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BACKGROUND: It is well known progesterone can have anxiolytic-like effects in animals in a number of different behavioral testing paradigms. Although progesterone is known to influence physiology and behavior by binding to classical intracellular progestin receptors, progesterone's anxiety reducing effects have solely been attributed to its rapid non-genomic effects at the GABA A receptor. This modulation occurs following the bioconversion of progesterone to allopregnanolone. Seemingly paradoxical results from some studies suggested that the function of progesterone to reduce anxiety-like behavior may not be entirely clear; therefore, we hypothesized that progesterone might also act upon progestin receptors to regulate anxiety. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To test this, we examined the anxiolytic-like effects of progesterone in male rats using the elevated plus maze, a validated test of anxiety, and the light/dark chamber in the presence or absence of a progestin receptor antagonist, RU 486. Here we present evidence suggesting that the anxiolytic-like effects of progesterone in male rats can be mediated, in part, by progestin receptors, as these effects are blocked by prior treatment with a progestin receptor antagonist. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This indicates that progesterone can act upon progestin receptors to regulate anxiety-like behavior in the male rat brain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T09:10:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0528d25050946488bfd0f4c2900b7f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T09:10:22Z |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0528d25050946488bfd0f4c2900b7f42022-12-21T18:31:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032008-01-01311e360610.1371/journal.pone.0003606Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats.Catherine J AugerRobin M Forbes-LormanBACKGROUND: It is well known progesterone can have anxiolytic-like effects in animals in a number of different behavioral testing paradigms. Although progesterone is known to influence physiology and behavior by binding to classical intracellular progestin receptors, progesterone's anxiety reducing effects have solely been attributed to its rapid non-genomic effects at the GABA A receptor. This modulation occurs following the bioconversion of progesterone to allopregnanolone. Seemingly paradoxical results from some studies suggested that the function of progesterone to reduce anxiety-like behavior may not be entirely clear; therefore, we hypothesized that progesterone might also act upon progestin receptors to regulate anxiety. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To test this, we examined the anxiolytic-like effects of progesterone in male rats using the elevated plus maze, a validated test of anxiety, and the light/dark chamber in the presence or absence of a progestin receptor antagonist, RU 486. Here we present evidence suggesting that the anxiolytic-like effects of progesterone in male rats can be mediated, in part, by progestin receptors, as these effects are blocked by prior treatment with a progestin receptor antagonist. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This indicates that progesterone can act upon progestin receptors to regulate anxiety-like behavior in the male rat brain.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2574412?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Catherine J Auger Robin M Forbes-Lorman Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats. PLoS ONE |
| title | Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats. |
| title_full | Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats. |
| title_fullStr | Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats. |
| title_short | Progestin receptor-mediated reduction of anxiety-like behavior in male rats. |
| title_sort | progestin receptor mediated reduction of anxiety like behavior in male rats |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2574412?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT catherinejauger progestinreceptormediatedreductionofanxietylikebehaviorinmalerats AT robinmforbeslorman progestinreceptormediatedreductionofanxietylikebehaviorinmalerats |