Involvement of NMDA receptor complex in the anxiolytic-like effects of chlordiazepoxide in mice

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2011 Jun;118(6):857-64. doi: 10.1007/s00702-011-0585-x. Epub 2011 Feb 5.

Abstract

In the present study, we demonstrated that low, ineffective doses of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonists [competitive NMDA antagonist, CGP 37849, at 0.312 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.), antagonist of the glycine(B) sites, L-701,324, at 2 mg/kg i.p., partial agonist of glycine(B) sites, D-cycloserine, at 2.5 mg/kg i.p.] administered jointly with an ineffective dose of the benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (CDP, 2.5 mg/kg i.p.), significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze (index of anxiolytic effect). Furthermore, CDP-induced anxiolytic-like activity (5 mg/kg i.p.) was antagonized by NMDA (75 mg/kg i.p.) and by an agonist of glycine(B) sites of the NMDA receptor complex, D-serine [100 nmol/mouse intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.)]. The present study showed a positive interaction between γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate neurotransmission in the anxiolytic-like activity in the elevated plus-maze test in mice and this activity seems to particularly involve the NMDA receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy
  • Anxiety Disorders / metabolism*
  • Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology
  • Chlordiazepoxide / pharmacology*
  • GABA Modulators / pharmacology*
  • Glutamic Acid / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / agonists
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • GABA Modulators
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Glutamic Acid
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Chlordiazepoxide