title: Anxiogenic-like effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in mice tested in the light-dark box.
abstract: Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a drug with abuse potential, popularly known as "liquid ecstasy". It is an endogenous compound of the mammalian brain which satisfies many of the criteria for consideration as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. In this study, the effects of acute administration of GHB (40, 80 and 120 mg/kg, ip) on anxiety, tested in the light/dark box, were examined in male mice of the OF.1 strain. Likewise, we compared the behavioural profile of GHB with that induced by mCPP (1 mg/kg, ip), a compound with known anxiogenic actions. GHB-treated mice spent notably less time in the lit area (40 and 80 mg/kg) and more time in the dark area (all doses), whereas the total number of 'rearings', transitions and latency were significantly reduced. A very similar behavioural profile was observed in mCPP-treated animals. Overall, these findings indicate that GHB exhibits anxiogenic-like properties in male mice. It is suggested that the anxiogenic effects of GHB could be related to its ability to modulate GABA and/or dopaminergic receptors.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, Spain. navahuma@uma.es
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedraza
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008027:Light; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D012978:Sodium Oxybate