Proconflict effect of carbon dioxide inhalation in rats.
The effect of brief inhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2) was studied in a conflict situation (Vogel test) in the rat. This treatment, which inhibits gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated transmission in rat brain and induces anxiety and panic attacks in humans, elicited a proconflict effect. Exposure of rats for 1 min to CO2 decreased by approximately 40% the number of licking periods in the test. This effect was abolished by prior administration of alprazolam (0.5 mg per kilogram of body mass, i.p.). Although these results may support a role for GABA-mediated transmission in the anxiogenic effect of CO2 inhalation, the possibility that different neurotransmitters other than GABA are involved in the action of CO2 can not be ruled out.
Cuccheddu
T
T
Department of Experimental Biology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
Floris
S
S
Serra
M
M
Porceddu
M L
ML
Sanna
E
E
Biggio
G
G
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005442:Flumazenil; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000525:Alprazolam