title: GABAergic agents and clonidine attenuate footshock-induced aggression in mice.
abstract: The effects of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), baclofen, and clonidine was studied on footshock-induced aggression in mice. A lower dose (200 mg/kg) of GABA enhanced the aggressive score, while at a higher dose (400 mg/kg) it attenuated the aggressive behavior, the latter effect being reversed both by bicuculline and picrotoxin (PTX). Clonidine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) enhanced the aggressive score, and the effect of clonidine was reversed by idazoxan. GABA (400 mg/kg) and clonidine (1 mg/kg) significantly reduced the aggressive score in reserpinized mice. Baclofen (5 mg/kg) showed no effect per se in either reserpinized or non-reserpinized mice. On concomitant administration of clonidine (0.5 mg/kg) with a subeffective dose of either GABA, baclofen, or diazepam, there was significant reduction in the aggressive score. A modulatory role of GABAergic and noradrenergic systems in footshock-induced aggression is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Aley
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004597:Electroshock; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D012110:Reserpine; D001418:Baclofen; D003000:Clonidine; D003975:Diazepam