Panic-like defensive behavior but not fear-induced antinociception is differently organized by dorsomedial and posterior hypothalamic nuclei of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia, Muridae)

Author(s)

Biagioni, A. F. ^[1] ; Silva, J. A. ^{[1, 2]} ; Coimbra, N. C. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Neuroanat & Neuropsicobiol, Dept Farmacol, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Neurociencias & Comportamento, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 45, n. 4, p. 328-336, APR 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 18

Abstract

The hypothalamus is a forebrain structure critically involved in the organization of defensive responses to aversive stimuli. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic dysfunction in dorsomedial and posterior hypothalamic nuclei is implicated in the origin of panic-like defensive behavior, as well as in pain modulation. The present study was conducted to test the difference between these two hypothalamic nuclei regarding defensive and antinociceptive mechanisms. Thus, the GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline (40 ng/0.2 mu L) or saline (0.9% NaCl) was microinjected into the dorsomedial or posterior hypothalamus in independent groups. Innate fear-induced responses characterized by defensive attention, defensive immobility and elaborate escape behavior were evoked by hypothalamic blockade of GABA(A) receptors. Fear-induced defensive behavior organized by the posterior hypothalamus was more intense than that organized by dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei. Escape behavior elicited by GABA(A) receptor blockade in both the dorsomedial and posterior hypothalamus was followed by an increase in nociceptive threshold. Interestingly, there was no difference in the intensity or in the duration of fear-induced antinociception shown by each hypothalamic division presently investigated. The present study showed that GABAergic dysfunction in nuclei of both the dorsomedial and posterior hypothalamus elicit panic attack-like defensive responses followed by fear-induced antinociception, although the innate fear-induced behavior originates differently in the posterior hypothalamus in comparison to the activity of medial hypothalamic subdivisions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/15140-4 - Neuropharmacological study of the involvement of dorsal rafe nucleus and serotoninergic systems in the antinociceptive process induced by oriented escape reaction evoked by GABAergic disinhibition of the dorsomedial hypothalamus
• Grantee: Audrey Franceschi Biagioni
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate