title: Anxiolytic-like effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in rats exposed and re-exposed to the elevated plus-maze and open field tests.
abstract: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an endogenous gaseous mediator, modulates many physiological functions in mammals but evidence of its involvement in emotional and behavioral aspects is currently scarce. We hypothesized that this gas plays a modulatory role in behavioral parameters in rats submitted to tests (for 5min) in the open field (OF) and elevated plus-maze (EPM - test and retest). Male Wistar rats (200-250g) were intraperitoneally injected with saline or Na2S (a H2S donor; 4, 8 and 12mg/kg) either once or for 8days, and submitted to the OF test or to the EPM test and retest. A third group (naïve) was not injected but exposed to the same experimental protocols. In the OF test, Na2S injected for 8days caused a decrease in self-cleaning (4, 8 and 12mg/kg) and freezing behaviors (8 and 12mg/kg), and a rise in the rate of line crossings in the central part of the arena (12mg/kg). In the EPM test and retest, Na2S at 12mg/kg for 8days caused an increase in the number of open arm entries and in the percentage of time spent on open arms. Our data are consistent with the notion that H2S exerts anxiolytic-like effects in rats submitted to the EPM and OF tests. Moreover, this gaseous modulator reduces aversive learning in the EPM retest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: alberto_donatti@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Alberto Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Donatti
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Basic Life Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato Nery
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christie Ramos Andrade
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leite-Panissi
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, Dental School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz G S
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.affiliation: Departament of Morphophysiology, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Albert Schiaveto
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D013440:Sulfides; C033479:sodium sulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Anxiety; Behavioral activity; Chronic treatment; Fear; Locomotor activity; Na(2)S