Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant and nootropic potential of aqueous extract of Indigofera tinctoria (ITAE). Methods: Antidepressant activity of ITAE was evaluated in mice by using the forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test tail suspension test and tetrabenazine induced catalepsy and ptosis models at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg orally. Nootropic act...

This study investigated the role of amygdala H(1) receptors in state-dependent memory deficits induced by l-histidine (LH). Tests using an elevated plus-maze (EPM) were performed on two consecutive days: Trial 1 (T1) and Trial 2 (T2). Before each trial, mice were intraperitoneally (IP) injected with LH (500mg/kg). Two hours later, they were microinjected with the H(1) receptor antagonist, chlor...

Protein malnutrition induces structural, neurochemical and functional alterations in the central nervous system, leading to behavioral alterations. In the present study, we used the elevated plus-maze (EPM) as a measure of anxiety to evaluate the interaction between acute immobilization and housing conditions on the behavior of malnourished rats. Pups (6 males and 2 females) were fed by Wistar ...

It has been demonstrated that the exposure of rodents to the standard elevated plus-maze (sEPM: 2 open and 2 enclosed arms) elicits defensive behavioral reactions and antinociception and also activates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We have recently reported that EPM-induced antinociception is particularly observed when rats and mice are exposed to a totally open EPM (oEPM: 4 ope...

The aim of the present study is to test a hypothesis that 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2C) receptors in the amygdala play an important role in the regulation of anxiety behaviors. We examined alterations in anxiety-like behaviors after manipulation of the expression of 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2C) receptors in the amygdala using recombinant adenovirus approaches. Recombinant adenoviruses containing a 5-HT(1A) pr...

Endogenous opioid systems regulate neurobiological responses to threatening stimuli. Stimulation of kappa-opioid receptors (KORs) produces analgesia but induces prodepressive-like effects in a variety of animal models. In contrast, KOR antagonists have antidepressant-like effects. KORs and their endogenous ligand dynorphin are expressed throughout brain areas involved in fear and anxiety, inclu...

AIMS Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a mitochondrial protein that reduces oxidative stress and has a protective function in chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. UCP2 is strongly expressed in areas implicated in the central regulation of stress and anxiety. Therefore, we compared the neuroendocrine regulation of stress re...

This study investigated the effects of histamine H1 or H2 receptor antagonists on emotional memory consolidation in mice submitted to the elevated plus maze (EPM). The cerebellar vermis of male mice (Swiss albino) was implanted using a cannula guide. Three days after recovery, behavioral tests were performed in the EPM on 2 consecutive days (T1 and T2). Immediately after exposure to the EPM (T1...

Recent animal and human studies have suggested that the cuprizone (CPZ, a copper chelator)-fed C57BL/6 mouse may be used as an animal model of schizophrenia. The goals of this study were to see the recovery processes of CPZ-induced behavioral changes and damaged white matter and to examine possible effects of antipsychotic drugs on the recovery processes. Mice were fed a CPZ-containing diet for...

Evidence supports the role of exercise training and probiotics on reducing obesity. Considering relationship between obesity high-fat diet with anxiety indices, aim this study was to assess effect probiotic supplementation high-intensity interval (HIIT) anxiety-like behaviors, corticosterone indices in (HFD)-induced mice. Thirty male adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups: (1...