RGD Reference Report - Sex differences in anxiety, sensorimotor gating and expression of the alpha4 subunit of the GABAA receptor in the amygdala after progesterone withdrawal. - Rat Genome Database

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Sex differences in anxiety, sensorimotor gating and expression of the alpha4 subunit of the GABAA receptor in the amygdala after progesterone withdrawal.

Authors: Gulinello, M  Orman, R  Smith, SS 
Citation: Gulinello M, etal., Eur J Neurosci 2003 Feb;17(3):641-8.
RGD ID: 1299322
Pubmed: PMID:12581182   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC2887345   (View Article at PubMed Central)

In a progesterone withdrawal (PWD) model of premenstrual anxiety, we have previously demonstrated that increased hippocampal expression of the alpha4 subunit of the GABAA receptor (GABAA-R) is closely associated with higher anxiety levels in the elevated plus maze. However, several studies indicate that sex differences in regulation of the GABAA-R in specific brain regions may be an important factor in the observed gender differences in mood disorders. Thus, we investigated possible sex differences in GABAA-R subunit expression and anxiety during PWD. To this end, we utilized the acoustic startle response (ASR) to assess anxiety levels in male and female rats undergoing PWD as the ASR is also applicable to the assessment of human anxiety responses. We also investigated GABAA-R alpha4 subunit expression in the amygdala, as the amygdala directly regulates the primary startle circuit. Female rats exhibited a greater ASR during PWD than controls, indicating higher levels of anxiety and arousal. In contrast, male rats undergoing PWD did not demonstrate an increased ASR. The sex differences in the ASR were paralleled by sex differences in the expression of the GABAA-R alpha4 subunit in the amygdala such that alpha4 subunit expression was up-regulated in females during PWD whereas alpha4 levels in males undergoing PWD were not altered relative to controls. These findings might have implications regarding gender differences in human mood disorders and the aetiology of premenstrual anxiety.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Molecular Function
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
GABA-A receptor activity  TAS 1299322 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Gabra4  (gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha 4)


Additional Information