Genetically inbred Balb/C mice are more sensitive to an effect of flurazepam and more resistant to an effect of stress than a genetically outbred mouse strain.
The inbred Balb/c mouse strain was more sensitive than the outbred NIH Swiss mouse to flurazepam's ability to antagonize electrically precipitated seizures. In prior work, a reduction in flurazepam's antiseizure efficacy was not observed 24h after forcing Balb/c mice to swim for up to 10 min in ambient temperature water. Thus, we wondered if a stress-induced reduction would be observed after forcing mice to swim for up to 10 min in cold (6 degrees C) water, a more severe stress. The current data show that 24 h after exposure to this stress, the ability of flurazepam to raise the threshold voltage for the elicitation of tonic hindlimb extension in the Balb/c mouse strain was reduced. The genetically inbred Balb/c mouse strain is emerging as an interesting animal model in which to study interactions of stress and genetic factors that affect endogenous neurotransmission mediated by l-glutamate and GABA at the NMDA and GABA(A) receptor complexes, respectively.
Burket
Jessica A
JA
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA.
Mastropaolo
John
J
Rosse
Richard B
RB
Deutsch
Stephen I
SI
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects; D005479:Flurazepam / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005479:Flurazepam