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Nesfatin-1 increases anxiety- and fear-related behaviors in the rat

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Abstract

Rationale

Nesfatin-1, derived from the protein NEFA/nucleobindin2 (NUCB2), is a newly identified peptide that acts as a potent satiety agent. It has been reported that peptides involved in the regulation of ingestive behavior are also involved in the regulation of the stress response. However, the relation between nesfatin-1 and stressor-related behaviors like anxiety and/or fear has not yet been investigated.

Objective

The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of nesfatin-1 (0, 5, and 25 pmol/3 μl) were assessed in several paradigms that are thought to reflect anxiety and/or fear in rats.

Results

Consistent with an anxiogenic effect, nesfatin-1 dose-dependently decreased the percentage of time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze, increased latency to approach, and decreased consumption of a palatable snack in an anxiogenic (unfamiliar) environment. Moreover, ICV nesfatin-1 increased the fear-potentiated startle response and the time spent freezing to both context and conditioned cues in a conditioned emotional response test.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that in addition to its role as a satiety peptide, nesfatin-1 may also be involved in the mediation of anxiety- and/or fear-related responses.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). HA is a Canadian Research Chair in Neuroscience. All experiments were conducted in accordance with the current laws of Canada. None of the authors have any direct or indirect conflicts of interests of a financial nature relevant to the present work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5

    Z. Merali, C. Cayer & P. Kent

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5

    Z. Merali

  3. Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5

    Z. Merali

  4. Institute of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1S 5B6

    H. Anisman

  5. University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, 1145 Carling Avenue, Room 5432 Research Tower, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1Z 7K4

    Z. Merali, C. Cayer, P. Kent & H. Anisman

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  1. Z. Merali
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  2. C. Cayer
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  3. P. Kent
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  4. H. Anisman
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Correspondence to Z. Merali.

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Merali, Z., Cayer, C., Kent, P. et al. Nesfatin-1 increases anxiety- and fear-related behaviors in the rat. Psychopharmacology 201, 115–123 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-008-1252-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-008-1252-2

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