title: Effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced amygdala lesion in rats submitted to the elevated T-maze test of anxiety.
abstract: The elevated T-maze (ETM) has been used to generate two defensive behaviors in the same rat, inhibitory avoidance and one-way escape, which have been related to generalized anxiety and panic, respectively. In the present study, we investigate the role of the amygdala on the modulation of these two behaviors. Male Wistar rats were tested in the ETM test 2, 7, or 14 days after bilateral N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced lesion of the amygdala. The animals were also tested in an open field for evaluation of motor performance. The results showed that animals tested 7 days after NMDA injection had impairment in the acquisition of inhibitory avoidance, indicating an anxiolytic effect. Lesion of the amygdala did not change one-way escape in any of the tested groups. These results provide further evidence for the involvement of the amygdala in the modulation of defensive behaviors that have been associated to generalized anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christiana V A
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Silvia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Maisonnette
authors.forename: Norberto C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zangrossi
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D016202:N-Methylaspartate