title: Effect of Drug Alprazolam on Restrained Stress Induced Alteration of Serum Cortisol and Antioxidant Vitamins (Vitamin C and E) in Male Albino Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stress can cause harmful effects in the body that induce a wide range of biochemical and behavioural changes. As anti-stress drugs are routinely used to combat stress hence study is needed to assess the contraindication of these drugs in the physiological systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of alprazolam on restrained stress induced alteration of serum cortisol, and antioxidant vitamin levels in male albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male albino rats (body weight 175-225g) were divided into four groups of six animals in each. Group I (control), kept undisturbed in the metabolic cage throughout the 42 days experimental period. Group II (stress) rats were kept in a wire mesh restrainer for 6 hr/day for 42 days. Group III (stress+ withdrawal) rats were stressed for 21 days and withdrawal of stress for remaining 21 days (total 42 days). Group IV (stress + alprazolam) rats were only stressed for 21 days and treated with drug alprazolam (5mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal) in continuation with stress for remaining 21 days (total period is 42 days). At the end of 42 days all the rats were sacrificed and serum cortisol, vitamin C and E levels were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group II (stressed) showed a significant increase in serum cortisol level with concomitant decrease of serum vitamin C and E levels. Group III (withdrawal) and Group IV (+alprazolam) rats showed significant reduction of serum cortisol along with subsequent increase of serum vitamin C and E concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate a possible antioxidant effect of alprazolam on restrained stress induced alteration of serum cortisol and antioxidant vitamin levels.
authors.affiliation: PhD Scholar, Department of Anatomy, BLDE University's shri B.M.Patil Medical College , Vijayapura, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Rohini Sharanappa
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kori
authors.affiliation: In-charge, Central Animal Facility, IISc , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Ravindranath H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Aladakatti
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Anatomy, Shri Sridevi Institute of Medical Science , Tumkur, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Physiology, Shri B.M. Patil Medical College , Vijayapura, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Kusal Kanti
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Das
keywords: Anti-anxiety agent; Harmful effects; Life threatening events