Baclofen attenuates harmaline induced tremors in rats.
Recent experimental and clinical studies clearly suggest the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the pathogenesis of tremors. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of baclofen, a GABA B receptor agonist on harmaline induced tremors. Four groups of female Wistar rats weighing 100+/-15 g were injected with harmaline (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for inducing experimental tremors. The animals in groups 2, 3 and 4 were given baclofen by gavage at doses of 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively, half an hour before harmaline administration, whereas, the rats in group 1 served as control and received water. The latency of onset, intensity and duration of tremor and electromyographic (EMG) responses were recorded. Treatment with baclofen resulted in a dose dependent decrease in the intensity of tremor. Our EMG study also revealed a significant decrease in the amplitude of tremors in baclofen treated rats. A highly significant increase in latency of onset of tremor was observed in the rats treated with high dose (10 mg/kg) of baclofen only. This study clearly suggests beneficial effects of baclofen in harmaline induced tremors.
Tariq
M
M
Research Center, Armed Forces Hospital, P.O. Box 7897 (W-912), Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia.
Arshaduddin
M
M
Biary
N
N
Al Moutaery
K
K
Al Deeb
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006246:Harmaline / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000172:deficiency*
D018755:GABA Agonists; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D006246:Harmaline; D001418:Baclofen