Journal article
Central relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3) activation reduces elevated, but not basal, anxiety-like behaviour in C57BL/6J mice
Cary Zhang, Berenice E Chua, Annie Yang, Faze Shabanpoor, Mohammad Akhter Hossain, John D Wade, K Johan Rosengren, Craig M Smith, Andrew L Gundlach
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2015
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions, but their precise aetiology and underlying pathophysiological processes remain poorly understood. In light of putative anatomical and functional interactions of the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system with anxiety-related neural circuits, we assessed the ability of central administration of the RXFP3 agonist, RXFP3-A2, to alter anxiety-like behaviours in adult C57BL/6J mice. We assessed how RXFP3-A2 altered performance in tests measuring rodent anxiety-like behaviour (large open field (LOF), elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark (L/D) box, social interaction). We examined effects of RXFP3-A2 on low 'basal' anxiety, and on elevated..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia project grants 1024885 (A.L.G.) and 1066939 (K.J.R., A.L.G.), grants from the Pratt and Besen Family Foundations (A.L.G.), a Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (USA) NARSAD Independent Investigator Award (A.L.G.), and the Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Support Programme. C.Z is the recipient of a Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship. We wish to thank Brett Purcell and Travis Featherby (The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health) for assistance with behavioural equipment and analysis, and Dr Matthew Hale (La Trobe University) for comments on a draft version of the manuscript.