Neuropeptide y binding sites in rat brain and their relevance to the possible anxiolytic-like activity of receptor ligands

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Neuropeptide y binding sites in rat brain and their relevance to the possible anxiolytic-like activity of receptor ligands

Attwell, Philip John Edward; (1994) Neuropeptide y binding sites in rat brain and their relevance to the possible anxiolytic-like activity of receptor ligands. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London). Green open access

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Abstract

Neuropeptide Y was first discovered in 1982 and found to be a member of the pancreatic polypeptide family. It is one of the most abundant peptides found in the mammalian brain, where it often acts as a co-transmitter modulating the effects of a variety of other transmitters. Its effects are mediated by specific neuropeptide Y receptors of which at present there are thought to be at least three subtypes. Possible sites of action of neuropeptide Y with respect to its putative anxiolytic effects were investigated using neuropeptide Y receptor autoradiography to visualise its receptor binding sites in the rat brain. Areas rich in receptor binding sites include the hippocampus, claustrum, amygdala, septum, stria terminalis and cerebral cortex. Receptor subtypes were also visualised showing the Y1 receptor subtype to be prominent in the cortex and claustrum whereas the Y2 receptor subtype was found in the hippocampus, septum, amygdala and stria terminalis. Neuronal activity following central administration of neuropeptide Y was also investigated using the expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity as a marker of this activity. Areas expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity were the entorhinal cortex, amygdalopiriform transitional area, nucleus accumbens, ventral hippocampus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus and the dorsal endopiriform nucleus. Regions showing activity and receptor binding sites were considered strong candidates for further investigation. Evidence is presented for an anxiolytic-like action of neuropeptide Y in rats as detected in the elevated x-maze and Vogel's conflict models of anxiety. The neuropeptide Y receptor subtypes responsible for this action were investigated using various selective neuropeptide Y receptor subtype agonists. The anxiolytic-like effects of neuropeptide Y might be mediated by the Y1 receptor subtype. Finally, evidence is presented showing the hippocampus to be a site of action of neuropeptide Y in producing anxiolytic-like effects.

Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Qualification:	Ph.D
Title:	Neuropeptide y binding sites in rat brain and their relevance to the possible anxiolytic-like activity of receptor ligands
Open access status:	An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language:	English
Additional information:	Thesis digitised by ProQuest.
Keywords:	Health and environmental sciences
URI:	https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10104796