Distinct anxiogenic/anxiolytic effects exerted by the hamster lateral amygdalar nucleus injected with ORX-A or ORX-B in the presence of a GABAergic agonist

Recently, there has been growing interest in the neurobiological role of some amygdalar neuromediators, such as GABA and orexins (ORX), that are responsible for stressful behaviors. Infusion of the major fear-related and panic-related basolateral amygdalar station, the lateral nucleus, with ORX-A and ORX-B, alone or in combination with the main α1-containing GABAA receptor agonist (zolpidem), modified anxiety states of the Syrian hamster. Single daily doses of ORX-A led to evident anxiogenic features, as pointed out by more time spent in the dark compartment of the light–dark exploration test, effects that were suppressed by zolpidem. Conversely, doses of ORX-B induced anxiolytic effects, whereas the concomitant administration of this neuropeptide with zolpidem strongly favored anxiogenic responses. In addition, these behavioral responses resulted in a widely correlated upregulation of the ORX-2 receptor in some key feeding and motor limbic areas, such as the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, central amygdalar nucleus, and hippocampal CA1 layer. Overall, these first indications on the differing anxiety states induced by ORX-A and ORX-B injected into the lateral amygdalar nucleus alone or in combination with zolpidem may constitute useful future therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of panic disorders as well as stressful behaviors.