Fig. 7.

Alterations in CRF_2A receptor function after chronic alprazolam treatment. a, Chronic alprazolam increases CRF_2A receptor mRNA in the lateral septum. After 14 d of incorporation of alprazolam into the diet of male Sprague Dawley rats at a dose of 90 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹, CRF_2A receptor mRNA expression was measured via densitometric analysis subsequent to in situhybridization in the lateral septum and VMH. Eachverticalbar represents the mean ± SEM (n = 8 per group). Two to three slices were quantified per region per rat. *p < 0.05 versus controls after analysis by a two-tailed t test.b, Chronic alprazolam increases CRF_2Areceptor-binding density in the lateral septum and VMH. After 14 d of incorporation of alprazolam into the diet of male Sprague Dawley rats at a dose of 90 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹, CRF_2A receptor binding was measured by densitometric analysis subsequent to receptor autoradiography performed in the lateral septum and VMH. Total binding was determined using 0.1 nmol/l¹²⁵I-sauvagine. CRF_2A binding was determined in the presence of 1 μmol/l CP-154,526 (CRF₁-selective antagonist). Nonspecific binding was determined in the presence of 1 μmol/l sauvagine. CRF_2A receptor-specific binding was calculated as CRF_2A binding − nonspecific binding. Each verticalbar represents the mean ± SEM (n = 8 per group). Three slices were quantified per region per rat. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 versus controls after analysis by a two-tailed t test.