title: GABA-mediated modification of despair behavior in mice.
abstract: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA agonists exhibited biphasic response on forced swimming-induced despair behavior in mice; smaller doses, GABA (100 mg/kg), muscimol (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg), baclofen (0.5 and 1 mg/kg), sodium valproate (100 mg/kg), piracetam (25 mg/kg), and fengabine (10 and 20 mg/kg) decreasing forced swimming-induced immobility period, while higher doses enhancing the immobility period. GABA, muscimol, and baclofen also reversed reserpine-induced prolongation of the forced swimming-induced immobility. When GABA was administered with antidepressant agents, it potentiated the effect of some classical antidepressants. Bicuculline and picrotoxin, the GABAergic antagonists, by themselves enhanced the forced swimming-induced immobility period, but they had no significant effect on reserpine-induced prolongation of the immobility period. When animals were chronically exposed to forced swimming, there was a gradual increase of the immobility period which was reduced on treatment with GABAergic agents. It is suggested that GABA has a modulatory role in reversing forced swimming-induced despair and also in potentiating the effect of antidepressants.
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: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018756:GABA Antagonists; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid