Abstract

Neural cell adhesion molecule peptide mimetics modulate affective behavior

Turner CA, Watsons SJ, Akil H
Society for Neuroscience. 2016.

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family in modulating emotionality. Moreover, ligands that activate FGF receptors, such as FGF2, have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in animal models. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is also known to bind to and activate FGF receptors. Therefore, this study assessed the ability of NCAM peptide mimetics to modulate anxiety-like and depression-like behavior in rodents. Anxiety-like behavior was measured on the elevated plus-maze and depression-like behavior was measured on the forced swim test. Specifically, we assessed the acute and chronic effects of three different NCAM peptide mimetics that have previously been shown to have effects on learning and memory in rodents. One peptide increased anxiety-like behavior in the EPM acutely. Chronically, it decreased depression-like behavior in the FST. The second peptide decreased depression-like behavior both acutely and chronically. The third peptide increased anxiety-like behavior acutely. Chronically, it decreased anxiety-like behavior. These findings lend support for the idea that NCAM peptides can modulate emotionality in animal models. Moreover, some peptides may be more beneficial in treating major depressive disorder, whereas others may be more beneficial in treating anxiety disorders.

http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4071/presentation/18578