Effects of FGF receptor peptide agonists on animal behavior under normal and pathological conditions

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of FGF receptor peptide agonists on animal behavior under normal and pathological conditions

AU - Rudenko, Olga

AU - Tkach, Vadym

AU - Berezin, Vladimir

AU - Bock, Elisabeth Marianne

PY - 2010/9/1

Y1 - 2010/9/1

N2 - Hexafins are recently identified low-molecular-weight peptide agonists of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), derived from the β6-β7 loop region of various FGFs. Synthetic hexafin peptides have been shown to bind to and induce tyrosine phosphorylation of FGFR1, stimulate neurite outgrowth, and promote neuronal survival in vitro. Thus, the pronounced biological activities of hexafins in vitro make them attractive compounds for pharmacological studies in vivo. The present study investigated the effects of subcutaneous administration of hexafin1 and hexafin2 (peptides derived from FGF1 and FGF2, respectively) on social memory, exploratory activity, and anxiety-like behavior in adult rats. Treatment with hexafin1 and hexafin2 resulted in prolonged retention of social memory. Furthermore, rats treated with hexafin2 exhibited decreased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. Employing an R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD), we found that although hexafin2 did not affect the progression of motor symptoms, it alleviated deficits in activity related to social behavior, including sociability and social novelty. Thus, hexafin2 may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of HD.

AB - Hexafins are recently identified low-molecular-weight peptide agonists of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), derived from the β6-β7 loop region of various FGFs. Synthetic hexafin peptides have been shown to bind to and induce tyrosine phosphorylation of FGFR1, stimulate neurite outgrowth, and promote neuronal survival in vitro. Thus, the pronounced biological activities of hexafins in vitro make them attractive compounds for pharmacological studies in vivo. The present study investigated the effects of subcutaneous administration of hexafin1 and hexafin2 (peptides derived from FGF1 and FGF2, respectively) on social memory, exploratory activity, and anxiety-like behavior in adult rats. Treatment with hexafin1 and hexafin2 resulted in prolonged retention of social memory. Furthermore, rats treated with hexafin2 exhibited decreased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. Employing an R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD), we found that although hexafin2 did not affect the progression of motor symptoms, it alleviated deficits in activity related to social behavior, including sociability and social novelty. Thus, hexafin2 may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of HD.

U2 - 10.1016/j.neures.2010.05.002

DO - 10.1016/j.neures.2010.05.002

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20562017

SN - 0168-0102

VL - 68

SP - 35

EP - 43

JO - Neuroscience Research

JF - Neuroscience Research

IS - 1

ER -