Anxiolytic effects of a semipurified constituent of guaraná seeds on rats in the elevated T-maze test.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic administration of a semi-purified extract (Purified Extract A--PEA; 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg) of PAULLINIA CUPANA (guaraná) seeds on rats submitted to the elevated T-maze (ETM) model of generalized anxiety and panic disorders. The selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine (PAR; 3 mg/kg), was used as a positive control. To evaluate possible serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission involvement in the action of PEA during the ETM test, ineffective doses of metergoline (MET; 5-HT (2A/2C) antagonist receptor) or sulpiride (SUL; dopaminergic receptor antagonist) were acutely administered together with the PEA. The locomotion of the rats was assessed in a circular arena following each drug treatment. Both PEA (8 and 16 mg/kg) and PAR (3 mg/kg) increased one-way escape latencies from the open arm of the ETM, indicating a panicolytic effect compared to the control group. MET, in higher doses (1, 2 or 3 mg/kg), produced a panicolytic effect in the ETM test, whereas SUL did not (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg). The panicolytic effect produced by PEA (8 mg/kg) was blocked by both MET (2 mg/kg) and SUL (20 mg/kg), whereas the panicolytic effect produced by PAR (3 mg/kg) was blocked only by MET (2 mg/kg). These results show that chronic treatment with PEA produces a panicolytic effect during the ETM test, and that the dopaminergic and the serotonergic neurotransmission systems are involved in this effect.
Roncon
Camila Marroni
CM
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
Biesdorf de Almeida
Camila
C
Klein
Traudi
T
de Mello
João Carlos Palazzo
JC
Audi
Elisabeth Aparecida
EA
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008711:Metergoline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D032126:Paullinia; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D008711:Metergoline; D017374:Paroxetine; D013469:Sulpiride