The anticonvulsant compound gabapentin possesses anxiolytic but not amnesic effects in rats.
This report describes the effects of the antiepileptic agent gabapentin on anxiety and memory. Male Wistar rats received intraperitoneal administrations of gabapentin (10, 30 and 100mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg), saline or diazepam vehicle 30 minutes prior to experimental procedures. Animals were: (1) tested on step-down inhibitory avoidance (footshock 0.3 mA) and habituation to an open-field for memory assessment; and (2) submitted to the elevated plus-maze to evaluate the potential anxiolytic effects of gabapentin. Animals treated with gabapentin showed a reduction in anxiety similar to that observed in animals treated with diazepam. Memory was not affected by gabapentin in any of the tests, but was impaired by diazepam. The lack of effects of gabapentin on memory suggest a potential advantage of this drug over compounds with previously known anxiolytic property, which have amnesic effects at doses used for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
de-Paris
F
F
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre e Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Busnello
J V
JV
Vianna
M R
MR
Salgueiro
J B
JB
Quevedo
J
J
Izquierdo
I
I
Kapczinski
F
F
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000588:Amines; D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D000077206:Gabapentin; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin