Dorsal Hippocampus ERK2 Signaling Mediates Anxiolytic-Related Behavior in Male Rats.

This investigation demonstrates that virus-mediated increases of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 signaling, within the hippocampus, plays a critical role in decreasing anxiogenic responses on the rat elevated plus maze. As such, our data provide construct validity, at least in part, to the molecular mechanisms that mediate anxiolytic-like behavior in rodent models for the study of anxiety.