RESUMO
Given both the high prevalence of anxiety disorders in women and the fact that little is known about the mechanisms of gender differences in anxiety, our primary aim in this study was to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying sex differences in social anxiety-like behavior in rats. Through the use of zif268 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (zif ASO), we induced a temporary downregulation of zif268 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex of male and female rats and found that zif268 ASO male rats show more social anxiety-like behaviors when compared with control male rats in the social interaction test. In fact, zif268 ASO males displayed social anxiety-like behaviors, which were similar to control females, thus downregulation of zif268 expression in the mPFC of male rats eliminated sex differences previously found in the social anxiety-like behavior tests. Interestingly, zif268 ASO in female rats had no effect on their social interaction. Our novel findings have led us to ascertain that sexually dimorphic zif268 expression in the mPFC is a key molecular factor in mediating sex-specific anxiety-like behavior in the social interaction test.
Assuntos
Proteína 1 de Resposta de Crescimento Precoce/metabolismo , Relações Interpessoais , Caracteres Sexuais , Análise de Variância , Animais , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Proteína 1 de Resposta de Crescimento Precoce/química , Proteína 1 de Resposta de Crescimento Precoce/genética , Estradiol/farmacologia , Estrogênios/farmacologia , Ciclo Estral/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclo Estral/fisiologia , Comportamento Exploratório/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Oligodesoxirribonucleotídeos/farmacologia , Ovariectomia/métodos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/efeitos dos fármacos , Córtex Pré-Frontal/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Estresse Psicológico/metabolismo , Estresse Psicológico/patologia , Esfregaço Vaginal/métodosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: While previous studies indicate a significant relationship between self-efficacy and physical activity, less research has focused on this relationship among patients with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether self-efficacy mediated the relationship between participation in a 1-month, print-based physical activity intervention and improvements in activity levels. METHODS: Participants (N = 85; mean age = 57; 73% Caucasian; 69% female) were recruited from a community diabetes center. The intervention was individually-tailored based on theoretical constructs, including self-efficacy. RESULTS: After controlling for age, baseline activity, and baseline self-efficacy, the tailored intervention was associated with significant improvements in physical activity, 95% CI [23.01, 271.68] as well as self-efficacy, CI [0.02, 3.48]. There was an indirect effect of treatment on physical activity through self-efficacy, CI [0.77, 73.11], and the direct effect of treatment on physical activity was no longer significant, CI [-7.33, 253.40], after the influences of self-efficacy change were accounted for in the model. DISCUSSION: Results supported a mediation effect, such that the treatment effect on physical activity was completely mediated by changes in self-efficacy. Although replication is needed, results support the theoretical rationale for targeting self-efficacy to promote physical activity among patients with type 2 diabetes.
