Vasopressin-dependent flank marking in golden hamsters is suppressed by drugs used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder
UMass Chan Affiliations
Program in Behavioral NeuroscienceDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2001-09-08Keywords
Adrenergic Uptake InhibitorsAggression
Animals
Arginine Vasopressin
Behavior, Animal
Clomipramine
Cricetinae
Desipramine
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Fluoxetine
Grooming
Hair
Hypothalamus
Male
Microinjections
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Pigmentation
Serotonin Agonists
Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND: Alterations in arginine vasopressin regulation and secretion have been proposed as one possible biochemical abnormality in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In golden hamsters, arginine vasopressin microinjections into the anterior hypothalamus trigger robust grooming and flank marking, a stereotyped scent marking behaviors. The intensity and repetition of the behaviors induced by arginine vasopressin is somewhat reminiscent of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in humans. The present experiments were carried out to test whether pharmacological agents used to alleviate obsessive compulsive disorder could inhibit arginine vasopressin-induced flank marking and grooming. RESULTS: Male golden hamsters were treated daily for two weeks with either vehicle, fluoxetine, clomipramine, or desipramine (an ineffective drug), before being tested for arginine vasopressin-induced flank marking and grooming. Flank marking was significantly inhibited in animals treated with fluoxetine or clomipramine but unaffected by treatment with desipramine. Grooming behavior was not affected by any treatment. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that arginine vasopressin-induced flank marking may serve as an animal model for screening drugs used in the control of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.Source
BMC Neurosci. 2001;2:10. Epub 2001 Aug 15.DOI
10.1186/1471-2202-2-10Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/40374PubMed ID
11545675Related Resources
Link to article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1186/1471-2202-2-10