The CCK2 agonist BC-264 decreases predatory fear freezing at high but not low dosages in PVG hooded rats during initial exposure to a cat

Abstract

BC-264 a CCK2 agonist reverses chronically developed habituated predatory fear freezing behavior in PVG hooded rats. However, the acute effects of BC264 have not been previously examined. The effects of BC-264 (0.1-30 mu g/kg) on the mean percentage of PVG hooded rat freezing during an initial first time 20 min cat exposure were calculated. At higher doses (15 or 30 mu g/kg) but not lower doses (0.1-1 mu g/kg) BC264 statistically significantly decreased freezing compared to control (p < 0.001).