Predator odor-evoked BOLD activation in the awake rat: modulation by oxytocin and V(1)a vasopressin receptor antagonists
Submitted by Marcelo Febo on
PDF version| Title | Predator odor-evoked BOLD activation in the awake rat: modulation by oxytocin and V(1)a vasopressin receptor antagonists |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Authors | Reed, MD, Price, KE, Archbold, J, Moffa, A, Febo, M |
| Journal | Brain ResBrain Res |
| Volume | 1494 |
| Pagination | 70-83 |
| Date Published | Feb 4 |
| ISBN Number | 1872-6240 (Electronic)<br/>0006-8993 (Linking) |
| Accession Number | 23219972 |
| Abstract | Modulators of unconditioned fear are potential targets for developing treatments for anxiety disorders. We used blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI to investigate the pattern of brain activity during the presentation of a predator odor (cat fur) and a repulsive novel odor, butyric acid (BA), to awake rats. We further tested whether odor-evoked BOLD activation involved oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin V(1a) receptors. Animals were subdivided into groups either administered an intracerebroventricular injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), an OT receptor antagonist or a V(1a) antagonist (125 ng/10 muL each) 90 min before studies. BA odor evoked robust brain activation across olfactory, sensory, memory and limbic regions. The magnitude of BOLD activation across these regions was greater for BA than with cat fur. However, blockade of OT and V(1a) receptors differentially modulated odor evoked neural activity, particularly in the amygdala. OT and V(1a) antagonism preferentially modulated BOLD responding to BA in the cortical amygdala. While, OT and V(1a) antagonisms preferentially modulated BOLD responding to cat fur in the central amygdala. The data suggest that although OT receptors modulate BOLD activation in response to a novel and repulsive odor such as BA, vasopressin V(1a) receptors exert a modulatory influence on the neural response to a predator odor. |
