The present study addressed the role of environmental light intensity on the exploratory behavior of rats in the elevated plus-maze, with the specific goal of determining the light intensity threshold for triggering the aversion to the open arms. Male Wistar-derived rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze under different illumination levels: 0, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 and 300 lx. Exploratory behav...

Argyreia speciosa (Convolvulaceae) is regarded as a ‘Rasayan’ drug in the Ayurveda system of medicine to cure diseases of the nervous system. This work researched the action of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. speciosa root (ASE) on experimentally-induced anxiety, depression and convulsion in rodents. ASE (100, 200, 500 mg/kg, p.o.) was tested for the elevated plus maze, open field, forced swim...

Anxiety and mood disorders have become very significant affections in the last decades. According to WHO at least one mental disease occurred per year in 27% of EU inhabitants (more than 82 mil. people). It is estimated that by 2020, depression will be the main cause of morbidity in the developed countries. These circumstances call for research for new prospective drugs with anxiolytic and anti...

OBJECTIVE Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is frequently used anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) among the athletes. Despite the health risks, there is significant increase in prevalence of AAS abuse. DESIGN The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to ND at supraphysiological dose (to mimic the doses for human AAS abusers) on anxiety levels in adult rats. SETTINGS We...

Albizzia julibrissin Durazz, a Chinese Medicine, is commonly used for its anti-anxiety effects. (-)-syringaresnol-4-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (SAG) is the main ingredient of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. The present study investigated the anxiolytic effect and potential mechanisms on the HPA axis and monoaminergic systems of SAG on acute restraint-stressed rats. The anxiolyti...

Perinatal asphyxia in mammals leads to iron accumulation in the brain, which results in delayed neurobehavioural disturbances, including impaired learning and abnormal alertness over their entire life span. The aim of this investigation was to verify our hypothesis that newborn rats, showing reduced normal body temperature, are protected against neurotoxicity of the asphyxia up to senescence. A...

The selection for large and small relative brain weight (RBW) in mice, started in 1999, resulted in stable significant differences in the trait (16%). The selection was discontinued at F22, and both lines (Large Brain, LB and Small brain, SB) were maintained by random mating. In F25-F28 the significant differences in RBW were still present in spite of the lack of selection. In F28 ethanol injec...

It has been reported that periodic maternal separation in rats leads to a variety of endure behavioral, neurochemical and microstructural sequelae associated with the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Since it has been proposed that these changes might be permanent, we examined whether environmental complexity aid to recover the structural dendritic impairment induced by neonatal maternal d...

OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to evaluate the sedative and anxiolytic effects of the essential oils and hydroalcoholic extract of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (K. odoratissima) in mice by utilizing an elevated plus maze. The chemical composition of its essential oil was also determined. METHODS The hydroalcoholic extract or essential oil fraction from this plant were administered intrape...

We investigated the effects of D-AP7 [D-(-)-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid], a specific, potent antagonist of NMDA receptor on certain forms of behavior in control groups of rats and in rats submitted to hypoxia. D-AP7 given intracerebroventrically (icv) at a dose of 5 nmol was tested in the open field test, passive avoidance test and in elevated plus maze test. D-AP7 did not significantly c...