Faculty Opinions recommendation of Individual differences in elevated plus-maze exploration predicted progressive-ratio cocaine self-administration break points in Wistar rats.

Author(s):  
Trevor W Robbins
2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashraf Mahmud ◽  
Stephanie Gallant ◽  
Firas Sedki ◽  
Tracey D’Cunha ◽  
Uri Shalev

Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound that is the second most abundant component of cannabis. It has been shown to have a potential therapeutic value for a wide range of disorders, including anxiety, psychosis, and depression. Recently, it was suggested that cannabidiol might be a potential treatment for heroin craving and relapse. Here we investigated the effects of an acute treatment with cannabidiol on cocaine self-administration and cue-induced cocaine seeking in rats. Rats were trained to press a lever to self-administer cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion), first under a fixed interval 20 s (FI-20 s) and then under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement. Cocaine self-administration under a PR schedule of reinforcement was not attenuated by cannabidiol injections (5.0 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg; i.p.) when tested 30 min and 24 h after treatment. Cannabidiol treatment (5.0 mg/kg or 10.0 mg/kg) also did not attenuate cue-induced cocaine seeking in rats after a withdrawal period of 14 days. In contrast, treatment with cannabidiol (10.0 mg/kg; i.p.) resulted in a statistically significant anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus-maze. Our findings suggest that, under the conditions described here, an acute cannabidiol treatment has a minimal effect on a rat model of cocaine intake and relapse.


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

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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blandina Bernal-Morales ◽  
Gabriel Guillén-Ruiz ◽  
Jonathan Cueto-Escobedo ◽  
Juan Francisco Rodríguez-Landa ◽  
Carlos M. Contreras

Abstract The present study investigated the sensitivity to stress and diazepam in weaning (21-day old) Wistar rats. A single 15-min session of forced swimming was used to induce anxiety-like behavior. The group that was forced to swim exhibited an increase in anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT) compared to the non-stressed group. Diazepam (1 h before the tests) reduced anxiety-like behavior in rats forced to swim compared to the vehicle stressed group. The dose-response curve for diazepam indicated that the 0.5 mg kg−1 dose (1 h before the EPM and OFT) was the minimum effective dose in reducing anxiety-like behavior without altering locomotor activity in weaning rats. These results indicate that weaning rats can develop anxiety-like behavior after a brief, single session of stress, and that rats at this age are seemingly more sensitive to diazepam than adult rats, which may be taken into account for clinical applications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blandina Bernal-Morales ◽  
Jonathan Cueto-Escobedo ◽  
Gabriel Guillén-Ruiz ◽  
Juan F. Rodríguez-Landa ◽  
Carlos M. Contreras

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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 947-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Mladin ◽  
Alin Ciobica ◽  
Radu Lefter ◽  
Alexandru Popescu ◽  
Walther Bild

Deuterium-depleted water (DDW) has a concentration of deuterium 6-7 times lower than naturally occurring water (20-25 ppm vs. 150 ppm). When administered for a longer period, it can reduce the concentration of deuterium throughout the body, activating cellular mechanisms that depend on protons. The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of chronic DDW administration on anxiety-related processes in Wistar rats when compared to a control group that received distilled water, as studied in an elevated plus maze behavioral test. Our results describe a possible anxiolytic-like effect of DDW administration on rats, as shown by the increase in the percentage of time and number of entries in the open arms of the elevated plus maze. The administration of DDW also resulted in stimulated head-dipping behavior in the open arms, which is a behavioral change that characterizes the exploratory behavior and decreased inhibition/ fear in an unfamiliar environment. We conclude that the change in this balance may have important consequences for many biological mechanisms. A deuterium desaturation treatment with DDW might have a use in anxiety disorders.


2011 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celio Estanislau ◽  
Anna Carolina Ramos ◽  
Paula Daniele Ferraresi ◽  
Naiara Fernanda Costa ◽  
Heloisa Maria Cotta Pires de Carvalho ◽  
...  

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