The delta opioid receptor agonist KNT-127 in the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex attenuates veratrine-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

We previously reported that systemic administration of the selective delta opioid receptor (DOP) agonist KNT-127 produces potent anxiolytic-like effects in rats. Although a higher distribution pattern of DOPs was reported in the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (PL-PFC) of rodents, the role of DOPs in PL-PFC and in anxiolytic-like effects have not been well examined. Recently, we demonstrated that activation of PL-PFC with the sodium channel activator veratrine increases glutamatergic neurotransmission and produces anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Therefore, we investigated the effects of co-perfusion with KNT-127 in PL-PFC on veratrine-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice. We also simultaneously measured extracellular glutamate and GABA levels. In addition, we assessed the effect of KNT-127 on the expression of c-Fos in sub-regions of the amygdala. Extracellular glutamate levels were measured in seven-week-old male C57BL/6N mice using an in vivo microdialysis-HPLC/ECD system, and behaviors were assessed simultaneously in an open field test. Basal levels of glutamate were measured by collecting samples every 10min for 60min. The drug-containing medium was perfused for 30min, and the open field test was performed during the last 10min of drug perfusion. After drug treatments, the perfusion was switched from drug-containing medium to control medium without drugs and samples were collected for another 90min. KNT-127 co-perfusion completely diminished veratrine-induced anxiety-like behaviors and attenuated the veratrine-induced increase in extracellular glutamate levels in PL-PFC. Interestingly, KNT-127 perfusion alone in PL-PFC did not affect anxiety-like behaviors. Local perfusion of veratrine in PL-PFC induced c-Fos immunoreactivity in sub-regions of amygdala. Co-perfusion of KNT-127 diminished c-Fos expression. Here we demonstrate that the DOP agonist KNT-127 in PL-PFC attenuates veratrine-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice. These effects may be caused by the presynaptic suppression of activated glutamatergic transmission in PL-PFC, which projects to sub-regions of the amygdala. We propose that compounds like KNT-127, which inhibit glutamatergic transmission in PL-PFC, are candidates for novel anxiolytics.