title: Anxiolytic-like activity of SB-205384 in the elevated plus-maze test in mice.
abstract: Recent studies point to a major role for alpha2-containing GABA-A receptors in modulating anxiety. However, the possible implication of GABA-A receptors containing the alpha3 subunit on anxiety is less known. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of SB-205384 (0.5-4 mg/kg, i.p.), an alpha3 subunit positive modulator of GABA-A receptor, on anxiety tested in the elevated plus-maze in male mice, using classical and ethological parameters. Mice treated with SB-205384 showed an increase in the frequency of entries and the time spent in open arms, as well as a reduction in the time spent in closed arms, as compared with the control group. A notable increase of "head-dipping" unprotected and a reduction of "stretched-attend posture" protected was also evident. These findings indicate that SB-205384 exhibits an anxiolytic-like profile in the elevated plus-maze test, suggesting that GABA-A receptors which contain the alpha3 subunit might be involved in regulation of anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, Spain. navahuma@uma.es
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burón
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín-López
mesh_terms: D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D011897:Random Allocation; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018755:GABA Agonists; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; C546258:Gabra3 protein, mouse; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013876:Thiophenes; C108120:SB 205384