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Effects of antalarmin, a CRF receptor 1 antagonist, on fright reaction and endocrine stress response in crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

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Abstract

The corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors show striking homogeneity throughout the vertebrate subphylum. In mammals, the CRF1 receptor (CRFR1) plays an important role in mediating behavioral and endocrine responses to fear and stress. The specific roles of this receptor subtype in fear and stress reactions in non-mammalian vertebrates are largely unknown. Crucian carp displays the olfactory-mediated fright reaction, a stereotypic behavioral response to waterborne cues from damaged skin of conspecifics. This reaction shows several similarities to basic components of avoidance behavior in mammals. In the present study, we applied the non-peptide CRFR1 antagonist, antalarmin, to crucian carp 1 h before exposure to conspecific skin extract. This treatment resulted in a suppression of the fright reaction. After skin extract exposure, antalarmin treatment also lead to lower plasma cortisol values, as compared to vehicle treatment. This suppression of the behavioral fright reaction and the stress induced rise in plasma cortisol in crucian carp suggests that the functions of the CRFR1 are conserved by evolution.

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Abbreviations

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

CRF:

Corticotrophin-releasing factor

CRFR1 :

Corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor type 1

CRFR2 :

Corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor type 2

EIA:

Enzyme immunoassay

HPA axis:

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

HPI axis:

Hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by the Norwegian Research Council grants 159213/V40 and 172609/S40. Animal care followed national legislation of Norway and institutional guidelines at the University of Oslo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1041, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    Stine Lastein & Kjell B. Døving

  2. Department of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture, Danish Institute for Fisheries Research, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), National Institute of Aquatic Resources, P.O. Box 101, The North Sea Science Park, 9850, Hirtshals, Denmark

    Erik Höglund

  3. Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway

    Øyvind Øverli

Authors
  1. Stine Lastein
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  2. Erik Höglund
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  3. Øyvind Øverli
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  4. Kjell B. Døving
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Correspondence to Erik Höglund.

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Lastein, S., Höglund, E., Øverli, Ø. et al. Effects of antalarmin, a CRF receptor 1 antagonist, on fright reaction and endocrine stress response in crucian carp (Carassius carassius). J Comp Physiol A 194, 1007–1012 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-008-0372-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-008-0372-9

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