Effect of intranasal ghrelin administration on the compulsive behavior patterns and the level of anxiety after the vital stress exposure to rats

Abstract

Aim. The effect of the intranasal ghrelin on the compulsive behavior and the anxiety in rats after exposure to vital stress was assessed in Wistar rats using a number of behavioral tests: marble test, elevated plus maze, open field and “resident intruder” test. Methods. In the buring marble test, the behavioral components of the obsession (obsessive and obtrusive thoughts) and compulsions (obtrusive behavior), aimed to reduce anxiety, were modeled. Mental trauma was caused by a stressful effect, the essence of which was the experience of the animals of the circumstances of the death of a partner from the actions of a predator. A group of rats were placed once in the terrarium to a tiger python. Results. After the action of vital mental stress in rats, two connected behavioral phenomena were observed: a high level of anxiety and an increase in the number of buried balls. This was accompanied by a decrease in communicability. Intranasal administration of ghrelin (10 µg in 20 µl for 7 days) after presentation of the vital stress reduced the level of anxiety, and also normalized the commpulsive behavior (the number of buried balls). Conclusion. Thus, brain ghrelin is an important component of psychotraumatic mechanism. Ghrelin can potentially be considered as correctors of obsessive-compulsive disorders on the background of PTSD. Use of intranasal administration of ghrelin the clinic will allow the use of small doses of substances and thereby reduce their possible toxic effects.