QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, January 23, 2008, 28(4):893-903; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0659-07.2008

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sajdyk, T. J. Articles by Shekhar, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sajdyk, T. J. Articles by Shekhar, A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
Neuropeptide Y in the Amygdala Induces Long-Term Resilience to Stress-Induced Reductions in Social Responses But Not Hypothalamic–Adrenal–Pituitary Axis Activity or Hyperthermia

Tammy J. Sajdyk,¹ Philip L. Johnson,¹ Randy J. Leitermann,³ Stephanie D. Fitz,¹ Amy Dietrich,¹ Michelle Morin,² Donald R. Gehlert,² Janice H. Urban,³ and Anantha Shekhar¹

¹Institute of Psychiatric Research, Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, ²Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, Indiana 46201, and ³Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Interdepartmental Neurosciences Program, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Tammy J. Sajdyk, 791 Union Drive, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. Email: tsajdyk{at}iupui.edu

Resilience to mental and physical stress is a key determinant for the survival and functioning of mammals. Although the importance of stress resilience has been recognized, the underlying neural mediators have not yet been identified. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a peptide known for its anti-anxiety-like effects mediated via the amygdala. The results of our current study demonstrate, for the first time that repeated administration of NPY directly into the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) produces selective stress-resilient behavioral responses to an acute restraint challenge as measured in the social interaction test, but has no effect on hypothalamic–adrenal–pituitary axis activity or stress-induced hyperthermia. More importantly, the resilient behaviors observed in the NPY-treated animals were present for up to 8 weeks. Antagonizing the activity of calcineurin, a protein phosphatase involved in neuronal remodeling and present in NPY receptor containing neurons within the BLA, blocked the development of long-term, but not the acute increases in social interaction responses induced by NPY administration. This suggests that the NPY-induced long-term behavioral resilience to restraint stress may occur via mechanisms involving neuronal plasticity. These studies suggest one putative physiologic mechanism underlying stress resilience and could identify novel targets for development of therapies that can augment the ability to cope with stress.

Key words: NPY; BNST; amygdala; anxiety; anxiolytic; autonomic; CRF; CRH; hypothalamus; neuropeptide; RAPHE; septum

---

Received Feb. 14, 2007; revised Dec. 6, 2007; accepted Dec. 7, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Tammy J. Sajdyk, 791 Union Drive, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. Email: tsajdyk{at}iupui.edu

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help