Inhibition of substance P-induced defensive behavior via neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism in the central and medial but not basolateral nuclei of the amygdala in male Wistar rats

摘要

Rationale: The production of unconditioned defensive behaviors has been related to the amygdala, a key component of the encephalic aversion system. Microinjection of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) in the amygdala elicits defensive behaviors via the activation of type 1 neurokinin (NK-1) receptors. However, no studies have investigated whether infra-amygdala SP/NK-1 mechanisms can elicit other types of defensive responses, such as antinociception and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs).