one of the main components of the stress system is hypothalamus- pituitary-adrenal (hpa) axis. acute activation of µ-opioid receptors increases the activity of the hpa axis, leading to release of acth and corticosterone. glucocorticoids can change behaviors, depend on age but there were no evidences about the interaction between age, opioid system and glucocorticoids. in this experiment, effect...

Eight fatty acids (C12-C18) were previously identified in human amniotic fluid, colostrum, and milk in similar proportions but different amounts. Amniotic fluid is well known to be the natural environment for development in mammals. Interestingly, amniotic fluid and an artificial mixture of fatty acids contained in amniotic fluid produce similar anxiolytic-like actions in Wistar rats. We explor...

AIM To investigate methanol extracts of various parts of Rubus fruticosus L. (Rosaceae) for various neuropharmacological activities, such as anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, antidepressant, and sedative activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS The extracts were administered to albino mice orally at doses of 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg. The antidepressant activity was determined by using the forced swimming ...

Putative activity of hydroalcoholic and aqueous infusion extracts of Echium amoenum L. was investigated in mice using the rotarod model of motor coordination and the elevated plus maze model of anxiety. The extracts were administered intraperitonealy (i.p.) once, one hour before performing the tests. Preliminary phytochemical study of the plant, with standard procedures, showed that it contains...

Because zinc deficiency induces depression and anxiety-like behavior in rodents, we examined the effects of zinc administration in several tests by measuring anxiolytic activity in mice and rats. We now report that zinc significantly increased the number of entries into the open arms in the elevated plus maze in rats. Moreover, zinc treatment significantly increased the number of punished cross...

The present work is to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of Tephrosia purpuria (L) Pers (HAETP) in mice using the elevated plus-maze (EPM), elevated zero-maze (EZM), Y-maze and hole-board models. Furthermore, the anxiolytic effects of HAETP were compared to a known active anxiolytic drug diazepam. The extract, administered orally, in two different doses of HAETP 200 m...

Etazolate is a selective inhibitor of type 4 phosphodiesterase (PDE4) class enzyme. Antidepressant-like effect of etazolate has been previously demonstrated in the rodent models of depression. The present study was designed to investigate the anxiolytic-like activity of etazolate in experimental mouse models of anxiety. The putative anxiolytic effect of etazolate (0.25-1 mg/kg, ip) was studied ...

Progesterone is an anxiolytic steroid that could play a role in the regulation of anxiety in women. However, the mechanism by which progesterone decreases anxiety is incompletely understood. Progesterone affects the function of the brain by two distinct mechanisms. Progesterone regulates reproductive behavior by activating intracellular progesterone receptors (PRs). In addition, progesterone is...

AIMS We studied whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO(2)) treatment, which is known to increase production of nitric oxide (NO) in the brain, might also produce an NO-dependent anxiolytic-like behavioral response. MAIN METHODS Male NIH Swiss mice (20-25g) were subjected to a 60-min HBO(2) treatment at different absolute atmospheres, and anxiety was assessed using the light/dark exploration test at d...

We evaluated the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the aqueous extract of the bark of Tapinanthus dodoneifolius (TAE) (Danser) (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), using open field, elevated plus maze, and forced swimming tests. Effect of TAE was compared to standard drugs diazepam (2 mg/kg) and imipramine (10 mg/kg). Additionally, the same doses of TAE were evaluated on rat's memory using Y-maze ta...