The effect of GABAmimetics on the duration of immobility in the forced swim test in albino mice.
OBJECTIVES
Studies regarding the role of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in depression are conflicting. Therefore, it was decided to examine the effect of different drugs that enhance the GABA system on the time of immobility induced by the forced swim test (FST).


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Adult albino mice were divided into several groups of six animals. Each group received an intraperitoneal injection of either imipramine (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg), diazepam (0.5, 1, or 2 mg/kg), vigabatrin (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg), zolpidem (2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg), or alprazolam (1, 2.5, or 5 mg/kg). Control groups received the appropriate vehicle. One hour after injection, the duration of immobility was measured for 5 min in the FST. The percentage change in the duration of immobility from the control was calculated for each group. The statistical test of the difference between the treated and the control groups was calculated using unpaired Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Imipramine produced a significant dose-dependent decrease in the duration of immobility (78, 74, and 56%, respectively). Different doses of diazepam, vigabatrin, and zolpidem produced a significant increase in the duration of immobility (119, 126, and 128%), (116, 124, and 128%), and (108, 109, and 119%), respectively. The two low doses of alprazolam produced a significant increase (115 and 120%), while the high dose produced a significant decrease in the duration of immobility (74%).


CONCLUSION
Increasing central GABAergic activity by different mechanisms has resulted in a depressant-like activity measured as an increase in the duration of immobility in the FST model of depression.
['El Zahaf|Najwa Ahmed|NA|', 'Salem Elhwuegi|Abdalla|A|']
D000525:Alprazolam D000818:Animals D003863:Depression D003975:Diazepam D004195:Disease Models, Animal D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug D018757:GABA Modulators D018476:Hypokinesia D007099:Imipramine D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal D008297:Male D051379:Mice D009043:Motor Activity D011725:Pyridines D013315:Stress, Psychological D013550:Swimming D013997:Time Factors D020888:Vigabatrin D000077334:Zolpidem D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
GABAmimetics forced swim test diazepam vigabatrin zolpidem alprazolam