Augmented voluntary consumption of ethanol induced by reward downshift increases locomotor activity of male Wistar rats in the elevated plus maze

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
pp. 59-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocio Donaire ◽  
Shannon E. Conrad ◽  
Joanna B. Thompson ◽  
Mauricio R. Papini ◽  
Carmen Torres
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Male Wistar Rats

Nicotine-induced anxiogenic-like behaviours of rats in the elevated plus-maze: possible role of NMDA receptors of the central amygdala

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Zarrindast ◽  
Arash Aghamohammadi-Sereshki ◽  
Ameneh Rezayof ◽  
Parvin Rostami
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Central Amygdala ◽  
Receptor System ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Male Wistar Rats

The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor system of the central amygdala (CeA) in the anxiogenic-like effect of nicotine. Male Wistar rats with cannulas aimed to the CeA were submitted to the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of nicotine (0.6 and 0.8 mg/kg) decreased percentage open arm time spent (%OAT) and percentage open arm entries (%OAE), but not locomotor activity, indicating an anxiogenic-like response. Bilateral intra-CeA microinjection of NMDA (0.005–0.1 μ g/rat) decreased %OAT, but not %OAE and locomotor activity. Moreover, intra-CeA microinjection of NMDA (0.05 μ g) with an ineffective dose of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced %OAT and %OAE without effect on locomotor activity. On the other hand, intra-CeA microinjection of the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5 (0.05–0.5 μ g/rat) increased both %OAT and %OAE, showing an anxiolytic-like effect of the drug. Co-administration of the same doses of D-AP5 with nicotine (0.6 mg/kg, i.p.) increased %OAT and %OAE, but not locomotor activity. Intra-CeA microinjection of D-AP5 reversed the response induced by NMDA (0.1 μ g/rat) in the EPM. The results may support the possible involvement of glutamate transmission, through NMDA receptors of central amygdala in the anxiogenic-like effect of nicotine in the EPM task.

scholarly journals A Fatty Acids Mixture Reduces Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Infant Rats Mediated by GABAA Receptors

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blandina Bernal-Morales ◽  
Jonathan Cueto-Escobedo ◽  
Gabriel Guillén-Ruiz ◽  
Juan F. Rodríguez-Landa ◽  
Carlos M. Contreras
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Acid Mixture ◽  
Gabaergic Neurotransmission ◽  
Infant Rats ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Defensive Burying ◽  
Young Offspring

Fatty acids (C6–C18) found in human amniotic fluid, colostrum, and maternal milk reduce behavioral indicators of experimental anxiety in adult Wistar rats. Unknown, however, is whether the anxiolytic-like effects of fatty acids provide a natural mechanism against anxiety in young offspring. The present study assessed the anxiolytic-like effect of a mixture of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, and linoleic acid in Wistar rats on postnatal day 28. Infant rats were subjected to the elevated plus maze, defensive burying test, and locomotor activity test. Diazepam was used as a reference anxiolytic drug. A group that was pretreated with picrotoxin was used to explore the participation of γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors in the anxiolytic-like effects. Similar to diazepam, the fatty acid mixture significantly increased the frequency of entries into and time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze and decreased burying behavior in the defensive burying test, without producing significant changes in spontaneous locomotor activity. These anxiolytic-like effects were blocked by picrotoxin. Results suggest that these fatty acids that are contained in maternal fluid may reduce anxiety-like behavior by modulating GABAergic neurotransmission in infant 28-day-old rats.

scholarly journals Fear-Potentiated Behaviour Is Modulated by Central Amygdala Angiotensin IIAT1Receptors Stimulation

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria de los Angeles Marinzalda ◽  
Pablo A. Pérez ◽  
Pascual A. Gargiulo ◽  
Brenda S. Casarsa ◽  
Claudia Bregonzio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Anxiety State ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Emotional Processes ◽  
Footshock Stress ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Grooming Behaviour

Central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is one of the most important regulatory centres for the emotional processes. Among the different neurotransmitter systems present in this nucleus, AT1receptors have been also found, but their role in the generation and modulation of emotions is not fully understood. The present work evaluated the effect of intra-amygdalar injection of losartan (AT1receptor antagonist) and angiotensin II (Ang II) in the anxiety state induced by fear-potentiated plus maze in male Wistar rats. Fear in the elevated plus maze can be potentiated by prior inescapable footshock stress. The decrease in the time spent in the open arms induced by the inescapable footshock was totally prevented by losartan (4 pmol) administration in CeA. It was also found that Ang II (48 fmol) administration decreased the time spent in the open arms in animals with or without previous footshock exposure. The locomotor activity and grooming behaviour were also evaluated. The results obtained from the different parameters analyzed allowed us to conclude that the Ang II AT1receptors in CeA are involved in the anxiety state induced by stress in the fear-potentiated plus-maze behaviour.

scholarly journals Ethanol during adolescence decreased the BDNF levels in the hippocampus in adult male Wistar rats, but did not alter aggressive and anxiety-like behaviors

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia Scheidt ◽  
Gabriel Rodrigo Fries ◽  
Laura Stertz ◽  
João Carlos Centurion Cabral ◽  
Flávio Kapczinski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Male Intruder ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Adult Phase ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Adolescent Rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of ethanol exposure in adolescent rats during adulthood by assesssing aggression and anxiety-like behaviors and measuring the levels of inflammatory markers.Methods:Groups of male Wistar rats (mean weight 81.4 g, n = 36) were housed in groups of four until postnatal day (PND) 60. From PNDs 30 to 46, rats received one of three treatments: 3 g/kg of ethanol (15% w/v, orally, n = 16), 1.5 g/kg of ethanol (12.5% w/v, PO, n = 12), or water (n = 12) every 48 hours. Animals were assessed for aggressive behavior (resident x intruder test) and anxiety-like behaviors (elevated plus maze) during adulthood.Results:Animals that received low doses of alcohol showed reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus as compared to the control group. No significant difference was found in prefrontal cortex.Conclusions:Intermittent exposure to alcohol during adolescence is associated with lower levels of BDNF in the hippocampus, probably due the episodic administration of alcohol, but alcohol use did not alter the level agression toward a male intruder or anxiety-like behaviors during the adult phase.

scholarly journals Myristic Acid Produces Anxiolytic-Like Effects in Wistar Rats in the Elevated Plus Maze

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos M. Contreras ◽  
Juan Francisco Rodríguez-Landa ◽  
Rosa Isela García-Ríos ◽  
Jonathan Cueto-Escobedo ◽  
Gabriel Guillen-Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Myristic Acid ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Acid Mixture ◽  
Human Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Plus Maze

A mixture of eight fatty acids (linoleic, palmitic, stearic, myristic, elaidic, lauric, oleic, and palmitoleic acids) at similar concentrations identified in human amniotic fluid produces anxiolytic-like effects comparable to diazepam in Wistar rats. However, individual effects of each fatty acid remain unexplored. In Wistar rats, we evaluated the separate action of each fatty acid at the corresponding concentrations previously found in human amniotic fluid on anxiety-like behaviour. Individual effects were compared with vehicle, an artificial mixture of the same eight fatty acids, and a reference anxiolytic drug (diazepam, 2 mg/kg). Myristic acid, the fatty acid mixture, and diazepam increased the time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and reduced the anxiety index compared with vehicle, without altering general locomotor activity. The other fatty acids had no effect on anxiety-like behaviour, but oleic acid reduced locomotor activity. Additionally, myristic acid produced anxiolytic-like effects only when the concentration corresponded to the one identified in human amniotic fluid (30 𝜇g/mL) but did not alter locomotor activity. We conclude that of the eight fatty acids contained in the fatty acid mixture, only myristic acid produces anxiolytic-like effects when administered individually at a similar concentration detected in human amniotic fluid.

scholarly journals Participation ofGABAAChloride Channels in the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of a Fatty Acid Mixture

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Francisco Rodríguez-Landa ◽  
Rosa Isela García-Ríos ◽  
Jonathan Cueto-Escobedo ◽  
Blandina Bernal-Morales ◽  
Carlos M. Contreras
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Chloride Channels ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Elevated Plus Maze ◽  
Open Field Test ◽  
Acid Mixture ◽  
Plus Maze ◽  
Gaba Binding ◽  
Defensive Burying

Human amniotic fluid and a mixture of eight fatty acids (FAT-M) identified in this maternal fluid (C12:0, lauric acid, 0.9 μg%; C14:0, myristic acid, 6.9 μg%; C16:0, palmitic acid, 35.3 μg%; C16:1, palmitoleic acid, 16.4 μg%; C18:0, stearic acid, 8.5 μg%; C18:1cis, oleic acid, 18.4 μg%; C18:1trans, elaidic acid, 3.5 μg%; C18:2, linoleic acid, 10.1 μg%) produce anxiolytic-like effects that are comparable to diazepam in Wistar rats, suggesting the involvement ofγ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors, a possibility not yet explored. Wistar rats were subjected to the defensive burying test, elevated plus maze, and open field test. In different groups, threeGABAAreceptor antagonists were administered 30 min before FAT-M administration, including the competitive GABA binding antagonist bicuculline (1 mg/kg),GABAAbenzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil (5 mg/kg), and noncompetitiveGABAAchloride channel antagonist picrotoxin (1 mg/kg). The FAT-M exerted anxiolytic-like effects in the defensive burying test and elevated plus maze, without affecting locomotor activity in the open field test. TheGABAAantagonists alone did not produce significant changes in the behavioral tests. Picrotoxin but not bicuculline or flumazenil blocked the anxiolytic-like effect of the FAT-M. Based on the specific blocking action of picrotoxin on the effects of the FAT-M, we conclude that the FAT-M exerted its anxiolytic-like effects throughGABAAreceptor chloride channels.

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