title: GABA(A) ρ receptor mechanisms in the rat amygdala and its role in the modulation of fear and anxiety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accumulating evidence for the presence of GABA(A) ρ receptors within the amygdala which differ from other members of the GABA(A) receptor family in both subunit composition and functional properties has been recently obtained.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work was conducted to study whether GABA(A) ρ receptors may have a putative role in the amygdaloid modulation of fear and anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the bilateral intra-amygdaloid administration (6-240 pmol/side) of (1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid, a selective GABA(A) ρ receptor antagonist, reduced dose-dependently the exploration of the open arms of the elevated plus-maze without affecting locomotion and increased the plasma levels of corticosterone. In contrast, bicuculline in the dose range used (1.8-60 pmol/side) induced seizures, but had no effects on the exploration of the maze.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that GABA(A) ρ receptors may have a role in the amygdaloid modulation of fear and anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosciences, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-253, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Candy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flores-Gracia
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuche-Bricaire
authors.forename: Minerva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crespo-Ramírez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miledi
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuxe
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez de la Mora
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010721:Phosphinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: C101879:(1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D010721:Phosphinic Acids; D011725:Pyridines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D003345:Corticosterone; D001640:Bicuculline