Stressor controllability, social interaction, and benzodiazepine systems

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Pharmacology

Background:

• Stress can significantly alter social behavior.
• Benzodiazepine receptors are implicated in modulating anxiety and stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of benzodiazepine receptor-active compounds in stress-induced changes in social interaction.
• To determine if blocking benzodiazepine receptors can prevent stress-induced social avoidance.

Main Methods:

• Rats were exposed to inescapable or escapable shocks.
• Social interaction was measured in a novel environment.
• Benzodiazepine receptor antagonist (flumazenil) and agonist (chlordiazepoxide) were administered.
• An inverse agonist (FG 7142) was used to mimic stress effects.

Main Results:

• Inescapable shock reduced social interaction in rats.
• Flumazenil administration during shock prevented this reduction.
• The effect of inescapable shock on social interaction persisted for up to 72 hours.
• The benzodiazepine inverse agonist FG 7142 mimicked the effects of inescapable shock.

Conclusions:

• An endogenous benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist is released during inescapable stress.
• This endogenous inverse agonist plays a key role in mediating stress-induced deficits in social interaction.