PK11195 Increases Anxiety Like Behaviors in the Open Field

Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses in the US. Signaling between regions of the brain can be corrupted causing stress related behaviors. Medications that help treat these behaviors target GABA receptors in an inhibitory manner. However, these medications only work for a period of time. The likelihood of being free of these medications becomes uncertain. Another approach is a protein called translocator protein. TSPO, once known as peripheral benzodiazepine receptor is known to mediate anxiety related behaviors through the synthesis of neurosteriods. While TSPO may mediate these behaviors, its mechanism is not well known. Ligand PK11195 was used to evaluate behaviors in animal models using the open field task