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Involvement of dorsal hippocampal NMDA-glutamatergic system in anxiety-related behaviors of rats

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Abstract

Dorsal hippocampus is one of the brain regions which plays an important role in anxiety. In the present study we investigated the effects of Intra-dorsal hippocampus (CA1) microinjection of NMDA-glutamatergic receptor agonist, NMDA and its antagonist, MK-801 on anxiety-related behavior in rats. Elevated plus-maze (EPM) which is one of the common methods employed for testing of anxiety was used in this study. Rats were anaesthetized with a mixture of ketamine and xylazine and special cannulas were inserted stereotaxically into the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus. After a one-week recovery, the effects of intra-CA1 administration of NMDA receptor agents were studied. Bilateral Intra-dorsal hippocampus microinjection of different doses of NMDA (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 μg/rat) increased the percentage of open arm time (%OAT) and open arm entries (%OAE), indicating an anxiolytic-like behavior. On the other hand, administration of MK-801 (60, 125, 250 and 500 ng/rat) decreased %OAT and %OAE significantly. Pre-treatment administration of MK-801(60, 125, 250 and 500 ng/rat) reversed the anxiolytic effect of NMDA (0.5 μg/rat) microinjection into the dorsal hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner. From the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that the NMDA-glutamatergic system in the dorsal hippocampus is involved in anxiety-related behaviors.

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Abbreviations

EPM:

Elevated plus-maze

CA1:

Dorsal hippocampus

%OAT:

Percentage of open arm time

%OAE:

Percentage open arm entries

NMDA:

N-methyl-d-aspartate

CNS:

Central nervous system

GABA:

Γ-aminobutyric acid

MK 801:

MK-801 hydrogen maleate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran

    J. Solati

  2. Department of Biology, north Tehran Branch, Islamic Azal University, Tehran, Iran

    A. A. Salari

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  1. J. Solati
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  2. A. A. Salari
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Solati, J., Salari, A.A. Involvement of dorsal hippocampal NMDA-glutamatergic system in anxiety-related behaviors of rats. Neurochem. J. 5, 194–199 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819712411030081

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