The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the activation of Cdk5, a protein that has
been suggested to participate in higher cognitive functions, is required for the onset of a
sensitized anxiety-related behavior induced by stress.
The exposure to restraint enhanced both Cdk5 expression in certain subareas of the
septohippocampal system, principally in the lateral septum (LS) and septal Cdk5 kinase activity
in rats. Behaviorally, restrained wild type mice showed a behavior indicative of enhanced anxiety
in the elevated plus maze (EPM). In contrast, unstressed mice and stressed knockout mice, which
lacked the p35 protein, the natural activator of Cdk5, displayed similar anxiety-like behavior in
the EPM. Finally, the intra-LS infusion of olomoucine – a Cdk5 inhibitor – blocked the enhanced
anxiety in the EPM induced by prior stress in rats. All these data provide evidence that septal Cdk5 is required in the emergence of a sensitized emotional process induced by stress. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.
anxiety in the EPM induced by prior stress in rats. All these data provide evidence that septal
Cdk5 is required in the emergence of a sensitized emotional process induced by stress.
© 2008 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.
