Journal of Comparative Physiology A

, Volume 194, Issue 12, pp 1007–1012 | Cite as

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

  • Stine Lastein
  • Erik Höglund
  • Øyvind Øverli
  • Kjell B. Døving
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

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.

Keywords

Olfaction Brain Teleost Fear Cortisol 

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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Notes

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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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Stine Lastein
    • 1
  • Erik Höglund
    • 2
  • Øyvind Øverli
    • 3
  • Kjell B. Døving
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
  2. 2.Department of Marine Ecology and Aquaculture, Danish Institute for Fisheries ResearchTechnical University of Denmark (DTU), National Institute of Aquatic ResourcesHirtshalsDenmark
  3. 3.Department of Animal and Aquacultural SciencesNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway

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