Abstract
The authors investigated whether corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) within the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a critical component of the neural circuitry mediating conditioned defeat. In this model, hamsters that have experienced social defeat subsequently display only submissive-defensive agonistic behavior instead of territorial aggression. Conditioned defeat was significantly reduced following infusion of the CRF receptor antagonist D-Phe CRF((12-41)) into the BNST but not into the CeA. In another experiment, hamsters given unilateral lesions of the CeA and infusions of D-Phe CRF((12-41)) into the contralateral BNST displayed significantly less submissive behavior than did controls. These data suggest that CRF acts within a neural circuit that includes the amygdala and the BNST to modulate agonistic behavior following social defeat.
Copyright 2004 APA.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amygdala / drug effects
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Amygdala / physiology*
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Animals
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Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
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Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / analogs & derivatives*
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / physiology*
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Cricetinae
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Interpersonal Relations*
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Male
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Mesocricetus
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Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
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Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / physiology
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Septal Nuclei / drug effects
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Septal Nuclei / physiology*
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Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Substances
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Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
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phenylalanyl corticotropin-releasing factor (12-41)
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone