UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Fox, James H.
Dept./Program:
Psychology
Year:
2011
Degree:
PhD
Abstract:
Data from our lab shows that two weeks of voluntary exercise in group-housed mice produces a reduction in anxiety-like behaviors across a number of different measures (Salam et aI., 2009). The goal of the research undertaken for this dissertation was to (A) examine the effect of exercise on anxiety produced by a systemically administered serotonin (5-HT) agonist known to produce anxiety in humans and mice, (B) examine the contribution of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in the anxiogenic effect of a 5-HT agonist and determine whether it is modulated by exercise and (C) determine whether the agonist modulates anxiety through actions of the 5-HT2c receptor in the BNST.
It was found that 2-weeks of voluntary exercise blunted the anxiogenic effects of systemically and intra-BNST infused m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a 5-HT2c/2b agonist. In addition, the anxiogenic effects of mCPP were blunted by the selective 5-HT2c antagonist SB242084. When mCPP was administered outside of the BNST, no anxiogenic effects were found, suggesting that the effect of mCPP is specific to the BNST. Moreover, lesions of the BNST prevented the anxiogenic effect of systemically administered mCPP. Data suggest that 2-weeks of voluntary exercise produce varied changes in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in regions of the brain associated with emotion. Given the blunted response and lower anxiety-like behaviors in exercising mice, it is suggested that exercise modulates anxiety in part through changes in the 5-HT system and specifically in the BNST.
It was found that 2-weeks of voluntary exercise blunted the anxiogenic effects of systemically and intra-BNST infused m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a 5-HT2c/2b agonist. In addition, the anxiogenic effects of mCPP were blunted by the selective 5-HT2c antagonist SB242084. When mCPP was administered outside of the BNST, no anxiogenic effects were found, suggesting that the effect of mCPP is specific to the BNST. Moreover, lesions of the BNST prevented the anxiogenic effect of systemically administered mCPP. Data suggest that 2-weeks of voluntary exercise produce varied changes in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in regions of the brain associated with emotion. Given the blunted response and lower anxiety-like behaviors in exercising mice, it is suggested that exercise modulates anxiety in part through changes in the 5-HT system and specifically in the BNST.