Allergic rhinitis induces anxiety-like behavior and altered social interaction in rodents

Abstract Epidemiological and clinical studies report higher incidences of anxiety and increased emotional reactivity in individuals suffering from respiratory allergies. To evaluate if respiratory allergies are capable of promoting anxiety-like behavior in rodents, we used models of allergic rhiniti...

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Published in:	Brain, behavior, and immunity Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 784 - 793
Main Authors:	Tonelli, Leonardo H, Katz, Morgan, Kovacsics, Colleen E, Gould, Todd D, Joppy, Belzora, Hoshino, Akina, Hoffman, Gloria, Komarow, Hirsh, Postolache, Teodor T
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-08-2009
Subjects:	Aggression Allergens - immunology Allergies Allergy and Immunology Animals Anxiety Anxiety - etiology Anxiety - psychology Body Weight - physiology Brain Chemistry - physiology Corticosterone - biosynthesis Corticosterone - genetics Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - biosynthesis Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - genetics CRH Cytokines Cytokines - biosynthesis Cytokines - genetics Inflammation Interpersonal Relations Intranasal Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C Neuroimmune Ovalbumin - immunology Pollen - immunology Prefrontal cortex Psychiatry Radioimmunoassay Rats Rats, Inbred BN Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - complications Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - psychology T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - metabolism Intranasal Cytokines Neuroimmune CRH Anxiety Inflammation Prefrontal cortex Allergies
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Summary:	Abstract Epidemiological and clinical studies report higher incidences of anxiety and increased emotional reactivity in individuals suffering from respiratory allergies. To evaluate if respiratory allergies are capable of promoting anxiety-like behavior in rodents, we used models of allergic rhinitis and behavioral evaluations followed by assessment of mRNA for cytokines in relevant brain regions. Mice and rats were sensitized to ovoalbumin or pollen, respectively, following standard sensitization and challenge protocols. After challenge, the animals were evaluated in the open field, elevated plus-maze and resident-intruder tests. Cytokines and corticotropin-releasing factor expression were assessed in several brain regions by real-time RT-PCR and plasma corticosterone concentrations by radioimmunoassay. Mice and rats sensitized and exposed to allergen showed increased anxiety-like behavior and reduced social interaction without any overt behavioral signs of sickness. T-helper type 2 (TH 2) cytokines were induced in both rats and mice in the olfactory bulbs and prefrontal cortex and remained unchanged in the temporal cortex and hypothalamus. The same results were found for CRF mRNA expression. No differences were observed in corticosterone concentrations 1 h after the last behavioral test. These results show that sensitization and challenge with allergens induce anxiety across rodent species and that these effects were paralleled by an increased expression of TH 2 cytokines and CRF in the prefrontal cortex. These studies provide experimental evidence that sensitized rodents experience neuroimmune-mediated anxiety and reduced social interaction associated with allergic rhinitis.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:	0889-1591 1090-2139
DOI:	10.1016/j.bbi.2009.02.017