A CRH1 antagonist into the amygdala of mice prevents defeat-induced defensive behavior

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is believed to play an important role in the regulation of behavioral responses to stress. CRH(1) receptor antagonists may reduce stress responsivity. Stress increases CRH in the amygdala, important in memory consolidation. We hypothesized that infusion of a CRH(1) antagonist into the amygdala following social defeat would prevent the development of generalized fear responses. Acute social defeat in mice increases defense towards intruders, even nonaggressive intruders, placed within their home cage. We infused the CRH(1) antagonist antalarmin (0.25 microg/125 nl) bilaterally into the amygdala of mice immediately after defeat and measured their response to a nonaggressive intruder stimulus mouse placed within their home cage 24 h after defeat. Defeated mice that received vehicle displayed high levels of crouch defensive posture and numerous flights from intruders, relative to nondefeated mice that received vehicle. Defeated mice that received antalarmin into the amygdala exhibited significantly less defensive posture than did vehicle-treated defeated mice. Display of defensive posture in antalarmin-treated mice approached that of vehicle-treated nondefeated mice. These findings support a role for CRH in the amygdala to promote consolidation of emotional memory and indicate that antagonism of CRH(1) receptors in the amygdala may prevent the development of exaggerated fear responses in stressed mice.