Related Experiment Videos
Nociceptin stimulates locomotion and exploratory behaviour in mice
S Florin1, C Suaudeau, J C Meunier
1Unité de Neuropsychopharmacologie Expérimentale (CNRS URA 1969), Institut Fédératif de Recherche Multidisciplinaire sur les Peptides, Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie de Rouen, Saint Etienne du Rouvray, France.
European Journal of Pharmacology
|December 12, 1996
Summary
Nociceptin, a novel peptide, significantly boosts locomotor and exploratory behaviors in mice. Its stimulant effects on movement are mediated by the central dopaminergic system, not opioid receptors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nociceptin is a newly identified heptadecapeptide.
- It acts as the endogenous agonist for the orphan opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL1) receptor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of nociceptin on locomotion and exploratory behavior in mice.
- To elucidate the neurochemical pathways involved in nociceptin's motor-stimulant actions.
Main Methods:
- Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of nociceptin in mice.
- Assessment of locomotor activity (horizontal and vertical components).
- Behavioral testing using the hole-board test.
- Pharmacological manipulations with opioid (naloxone) and dopamine receptor antagonists (haloperidol, SCH 23390).
Main Results:
- Nociceptin dose-dependently stimulated locomotor activity, with effects increasing in intensity and duration at higher doses.
- Both horizontal and vertical locomotion were enhanced.
- Nociceptin increased head dips in the hole-board test, indicating stimulated exploratory behavior.
- The motor-stimulant effects were not blocked by naloxone but were reversed by dopamine D1 and D2 receptor antagonists.
Conclusions:
- Nociceptin possesses significant motor-stimulant and exploratory behavior-enhancing properties in mice.
- These effects are mediated through the central dopaminergic system, suggesting a role for nociceptin in modulating dopamine transmission.
- Nociceptin's actions are independent of classical opioid receptors.