Effects of lesions to the dorsal and ventral hippocampus on defensive behaviors in rats

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-58).viii, 58 leaves, bound ill. 29 cmThis study investigated the role of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in both unconditioned and conditioned defensive behaviors by examining the effects of pretraining ibotenic acid lesions to the dorsal or ventral hippocampus in Long Evans hooded male rats exposed to three types of threat stimuli, cat odor, a live cat and footshock. Conditioned defensive behaviors were assessed in the same context 24 hours after the threat exposure. During unconditioned test trials, DR lesions did not significantly alter behaviors during exposure to cat odor, a live cat, or footshock. Additionally, DR lesions failed to modify conditioned behaviors during all three tests of defense. In contrast, VR lesions significantly reduced both unconditioned and conditioned defensive behaviors during cat odor and footshock, while only reducing defensive behaviors during the unconditioned cat exposure trail. These results suggest a role for the VR in modulating anxiety-like behaviors in certain animal models of defense

Curiosity as an approach to ethoexperimental analysis: Behavioral neuroscience as seen by students and colleagues of Bob Blanchard

This review is a synopsis of an International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS) symposium which focused on the elements of Behavioral Neuroscience for which Robert J. Blanchard was a Pioneer, Leading Expert, Advocate, Mentor, and Sage. Bob Blanchard's work demonstrably changed our broad understanding of animal behavior, and led the way to experimental design and analysis for studies of animal behavior that helped to clarify the deep complexity and subtleties of behavior. Bob's impact on the field of Behavioral Neuroscience includes the behavior, neurocircuitry, neurochemistry, and pharmacology related to social interactions, aggressive behavior, defensive behaviors, flight, freezing, threat, attack, risk assessment, anxiety disorders, animal models, models of social behavior, and autism. The methods and designs developed by Bob Blanchard over a lifetime have been adopted by scientists around the world, and form a standard of excellence in the field. The article addresses these topics in a way that presents developments in the field, describes the newest research data, and pays tribute to a great scientist and founder of this field of work, Bob Blanchard

Stimulation of 5-HT1Breceptors enhances cocaine reinforcement yet reduces cocaine-seeking behavior

ADC ArcheoProjecten heeft een Archeologische Begeleiding (conform protocol Opgraven)1 uitgevoerd. Dit ten behoeve van de stadsvernieuwing binnen het gebied van de Koningsstraat, Schuttersgracht en Molenstraat in Ijsselstein. De Archeologische Begeleiding behelsde het toezicht houden op het uitgraven van kabels- en leidingsleuven, zie hiervoor PVE fase2. Het onderzoeksgebied heeft een oppervlakte van ca. 6100 m² en was vóór de werkzaamheden in gebruik als openbare weg en parkeerterrein. Het gebied behelst het Koningshof, het zuidoost deel van de Molenstraat en de Schuttersgracht. Tijdens de begeleiding zijn sporen van bewoning uit de Late Middeleeuwen B en de Nieuwe Tijd B aangetroffen. In dit gebied komen dergelijke resten veel voor en geven aan dat hier in deze periode twee verschillende bewoningsfase te onderscheiden zijn

Protracted Withdrawal from Cocaine Self-Administration Flips the Switch on 5-HT1B Receptor Modulation of Cocaine Abuse-Related Behaviors

Contains fulltext : 213908.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Effects of a 5-HT1B Receptor Agonist on Locomotion and Reinstatement of Cocaine-Conditioned Place Preference after Abstinence from Repeated Injections in Mice

5-HT1B receptors (5-HT1BRs) modulate behavioral effects of cocaine. Here we examined the effects of the 5-HT1BR agonist 5-propoxy-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine (CP94253) on spontaneous and cocaine-induced locomotion and on cocaine-primed reinstatement of conditioned place preference (CPP) in male mice given daily repeated injections of either saline or cocaine (15 mg/kg, IP) for 20 days. In the locomotor activity experiment, testing occurred both 1 and 20 days after the final injection. In the CPP experiment, mice underwent conditioning procedures while receiving the last of their daily injections, which were given either during or ≥2 h after CPP procedures. The CPP procedural timeline consisted of baseline preference testing (days 12–13 of the chronic regimen), conditioning (days 14–19, 2 daily 30-min sessions separated by 5 h), CPP test (day 21), extinction (days 22–34; no injections), CPP extinction test (day 35), and reinstatement test (day 36). Mice that had not extinguished received additional extinction sessions prior to reinstatement testing on day 42. On test days, mice were pretreated with either saline or CP94253 (10 mg/kg, IP). Testing began 30 min later, immediately after mice were primed with either saline or cocaine (5 mg/kg for locomotion; 15 mg/kg for reinstatement). We found that CP94253 increased spontaneous locomotion in mice receiving repeated injections of either saline or cocaine when tested 1 day after the last injection, but had no effect on spontaneous locomotion after 20 days abstinence from repeated injections. Surprisingly, cocaine-induced locomotion was sensitized regardless of whether the mice had received repeated saline or cocaine. CP94253 attenuated expression of the sensitized locomotion after 20 days abstinence. A control experiment in noninjected, drug-naïve mice showed that CP94253 had no effect on spontaneous or cocaine-induced locomotion. Mice reinstated cocaine-CPP when given a cocaine prime, and CP94253 pretreatment attenuated cocaine reinstatement.The findings suggest that stress from repeated saline injections and/or co-housing with cocaine-injected mice may cross-sensitize with cocaine effects on locomotion and that CP94253 attenuates these effects, as well as reinstatement of cocaine-CPP. This study supports the idea that 5-HT1BR agonists may be useful anti-cocaine medications

The Therapeutic Effectiveness of Full Spectrum Hemp Oil Using a Chronic Neuropathic Pain Model

Background: Few models exist that can control for placebo and expectancy effects commonly observed in clinical trials measuring ‘Cannabis’ pharmacodynamics. We used the Foramen Rotundum Inflammatory Constriction Trigeminal Infraorbital Nerve injury (FRICT-ION) model to measure the effect of “full-spectrum” whole plant extracted hemp oil on chronic neuropathic pain sensitivity in mice. Methods: Male BALBc mice were submitted to the FRICT-ION chronic neuropathic pain model with oral insertion through an incision in the buccal/cheek crease of 3 mm of chromic gut suture (4-0). The suture, wedged along the V2 trigeminal nerve branch, creates a continuous irritation that develops into secondary mechanical hypersensitivity on the snout. Von Frey filament stimuli on the mouse whisker pad was used to assess the mechanical pain threshold from 0–6 h following dosing among animals (n = 6) exposed to 5 μL of whole plant extracted hemp oil combined with a peanut butter vehicle (0.138 mg/kg), the vehicle alone (n = 3) 7 weeks post-surgery, or a naïve control condition (n = 3). Results: Mechanical allodynia was alleviated within 1 h (d = 2.50, p < 0.001) with a peak reversal effect at 4 h (d = 7.21, p < 0.001) and remained significant throughout the 6 h observation window. There was no threshold change on contralateral whisker pad after hemp oil administration, demonstrating the localization of anesthetic response to affected areas. Conclusion: Future research should focus on how whole plant extracted hemp oil affects multi-sensory and cognitive-attentional systems that process pain