title: Olanzapine counteracts stress-induced anxiety-like behavior in rats.
abstract: Atypical antipsychotics, such as olanzapine, have been reported to display anxiolytic properties as shown in several preclinical and clinical studies. Furthermore, several experimental evidences have shown that olanzapine reduces fear and anxiety in activated anxiety-like behavior test such as Geller-Seifter test, ultrasonic vocalization test and stress-induced EtOH consumption. Here, we hypothesized that the anxiolytic action of olanzapine might be due to via an indirect activation of the gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)-ergic system through 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one [allopregnanolone (ALLO)], a potent neuroactive steroid that positively modulates the benzodiazepine-gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A))/benzodiazepine receptors complex. To address this question, we used a preclinical animal test to screen for novel anxiolytic compounds - the elevated plus-maze (EPM) - in basal condition and after 45 min restrain stress after acute or repeated (21 days) administration of olanzapine (0.5mg/kg, i.p.). In this condition, we therefore study the effect of the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride (FIN) (50mg/kg) after co-administration with olanzapine. FIN is an inhibitor of steroidogenic enzymes which acts by inhibiting type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts into 5-alpha-reduced metabolites like the GABA(A) positive neuroactive steroid ALLO. Results showed an anxiolytic effect of the acute, but not of the chronic, treatment with olanzapine only in stressed rats. This anxiolytic effect was counteracted by the co-administration with FIN. These evidences suggest that the anxiolytic effects of olanzapine might be due to possible action of olanzapine on steroid function via activation of GABA system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locchi
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dall'olio
authors.forename: Ottavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gandolfi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rimondini
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018120:Finasteride / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011280:Pregnanolone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D018120:Finasteride; D011280:Pregnanolone; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase; D000077152:Olanzapine