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Pharmacopsychiatry 2003; 36(5): 181-186
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-43047
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Acute Effects of Cholecystokinin Tetrapeptide on Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potentials in Healthy Volunteers

T. Gunnarsson1 , C. Mahoney2 , J. Shlik3 , J. Bradwejn4 , V. Knott4
  • 1Department of Neuroscience and Locomotion, Psychiatric Section, University Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden
  • 2Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Estonia
  • 4Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa/Royal Ottawa Hospital and Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 11.2.2002 Revised: 24.4.2002

Accepted: 15.10.2002

Publication Date:
18 May 2004 (online)

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This study investigated the effects of continuous slow intravenous infusion of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) on brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BSAEP) in healthy subjects. Twenty-four subjects, 15 females and 9males, were assigned to infusion with either placebo or CCK-4 in a randomized, double-blind, parallel group design. BSAEPs, mood, physical symptoms, and vital signs were assessed once before infusion and at 10 min and 40 min after the onset of infusion. In the 16 subjects (N = 8, CCK-4; N = 8, placebo) CCK-4, compared to placebo, delayed peak I latency during early infusion, slowed the latencies of peaks III and V, and decreased the amplitude of peak III throughout the infusion. No significant treatment differences were observed with respect to symptoms, mood, or cardiovascular measures. These preliminary findings suggest that CCK-4 may interfere with information processing in the brain stem auditory pathways and that prolonged intravenous CCK-4 administration may be a useful challenge paradigm for investigating CCK’s modulatory role on brain stem mechanisms mediating anxiety and panic in humans.

Key words

Cholecystokinin - CCK-4 - brain stem auditory evoked potentials - anxiety, panic

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Dr. Verner Knott

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