Biomaterial Database

Specific antagonists of the acute behavioral response to centrally-administered vasopressin in mice. 1987

G Meisenberg, and W H Simmons

Vasopressin and related peptides cause behavioral excitation after intracerebroventricular injection in mice. This behavioral excitation is characterized by excessive scratching and grooming behavior in the unrestrained animal and enhanced escape-directed activity in stressful situations. These effects of vasopressin were found to be blocked by the administration of analogs which act as competitive antagonists of the pressor-activity of vasopressin. The potencies of these analogs in suppressing the behavioral effect paralleled the pressor antagonist potencies. The antagonists did not cause the characteristic behavioral alterations by themselves, nor did they block grooming and/or scratching behavior induced by the structurally-unrelated substances, mescaline, bombesin and substance P. It is suggested that these antagonists provide useful tools for studying the role of endogenous vasopressin in behavior.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008635	Mescaline	Hallucinogenic alkaloid isolated from the flowering heads (peyote) of Lophophora (formerly Anhalonium) williamsii, a Mexican cactus used in Indian religious rites and as an experimental psychotomimetic. Among its cellular effects are agonist actions at some types of serotonin receptors. It has no accepted therapeutic uses although it is legal for religious use by members of the Native American Church.	Mezcalin,Peyote,Trimethoxyphenethylamine,3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D011945	Receptors, Angiotensin	Cell surface proteins that bind ANGIOTENSINS and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells.	Angiotensin Receptor,Angiotensin Receptors,Angiotensin II Receptor,Angiotensin III Receptor,Receptor, Angiotensin II,Receptor, Angiotensin III,Receptor, Angiotensin
D001839	Bombesin	A tetradecapeptide originally obtained from the skins of toads Bombina bombina and B. variegata. It is also an endogenous neurotransmitter in many animals including mammals. Bombesin affects vascular and other smooth muscle, gastric secretion, and renal circulation and function.	Bombesin 14,Bombesin Dihydrochloride,Dihydrochloride, Bombesin
D004924	Escape Reaction	Innate response elicited by sensory stimuli associated with a threatening situation, or actual confrontation with an enemy.	Flight Reaction,Escape Reactions,Flight Reactions,Reaction, Escape,Reaction, Flight,Reactions, Escape,Reactions, Flight
D006120	Grooming	An animal's cleaning and caring for the body surface. This includes preening, the cleaning and oiling of feathers with the bill or of hair with the tongue.	Preening,Groomings,Preenings
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001127	Arginine Vasopressin	The predominant form of mammalian antidiuretic hormone. It is a nonapeptide containing an ARGININE at residue 8 and two disulfide-linked cysteines at residues of 1 and 6. Arg-vasopressin is used to treat DIABETES INSIPIDUS or to improve vasomotor tone and BLOOD PRESSURE.	Argipressin,Vasopressin, Arginine,Arg-Vasopressin,Argipressin Tannate,Arg Vasopressin
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors