Intracerebroventricular cholecystokinin infusions block beta-endorphin-induced disruption of maternal behavior

Recent work has shown that infusions of beta-endorphin, an endogenous opioid, into the ventricular system of lactating rats blocks normal maternal behavior. Other behavioral and biochemical studies have demonstrated that sulfated cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) can have effects opposite those of opioids. The present study evaluated whether intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of CCK-8 is able to antagonize the inhibitory effect of beta-endorphin on maternal behavior. The results of this study demonstrated that CCK-8 (14.5 nmol) prevented the beta-endorphin (1.45 nmol)-induced increase in latencies to retrieve the first pup, retrieve all pups, and to group and crouch over rat pups. In addition, reductions in the percentage of rats retrieving all pups and displaying full maternal behavior were prevented by CCK-8. These data suggest that CCK-8 can act as an opioid antagonist in neural systems that control maternal behavior.