Aggressiveness, hypoalgesia and high blood pressure in mice lacking the adenosine A sub 2a receptor

Article Abstract:

The role of the adenosine-receptor subtype A sub 2a was examined in mice. It has been found that mice lacking this receptor, or A sub 2a R knockout mice, seem to exhibit normal behavior and bred normally but were found to have high anxiety levels and increased blood pressure and heart rates. However, their exploratory behavior was reduced. Male knockout mice displayed a greater level of aggression towards intruders. Caffeine, a psychoactive drug which normally stimulates exploratory behavior, was found to have a strong depressant effect on the mice.

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Isolation and structure of the endogenous agonist of opioid receptor-like ORL1 receptor

Article Abstract:

A heptapeptide coded by rat brain cDNA shows properties of an endogenous agonist of the ORL(sub 1) orphan receptor in cell cultures. The peptide suppresses the release of adenylate cyclase in the CHO(ORL1+) cell line and causes hypoglycemia. This neuropeptide contains additional Lys-Arg residues. Structure of this neuropeptide is similar to that of the peptide dynorphin A. Its effect on pain sensitivity is the reverse of the effect of OTL1 suppression. The suggested name for this peptide is nociceptin.

Physiological aspects, Observations, Agonistic behavior in animals, Animal agonistic behavior, Amino acid sequence, Amino acid sequencing, Neuropeptides

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Knockouts anxious for new therapy

Article Abstract:

Very little attention has been focused on a chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses called adenosine. Research on this atypical neurotransmitter might now be revived because of a study indicating behavioral and physiological changes in mice lacking one adenosine-receptor subtype, which is called A sub 2a. The study suggests that a stimulatory effect of and tonic vasodilatory role for adenosine might be found.

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