Blockade by nifedipine of repeated restraint stress-induced delayed hyperactivity in rats.
Male Wistar rats subjected to repeated restraint stress (1 h per day for 6 days) displayed increasing locomotor horizontal and vertical activity, measured for 1 h in an autotrack actometer 2 days after the last restraint. The administration of L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (5 mg/kg i.p.) before each immobilization session completely prevented the stress-related augmentation of the locomotor activity. This shows that functional Ca2+ channels are required for development of stress-related motor activation and suggests that some effects of repeated stress may be prevented by application of Ca2+ channel blockade before stressful stimuli.
Mamczarz
J
J
Department of Biochemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
Vetulani
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine