EFFECT OF D-PHENYL-ALANINE ON ANXIETY IN THE PLUS MAZE TEST IN RATS.

GUEVARA MANUEL; GIAI MARCOS; LANDA ADRIANA; MESONES HUMBERTO; GARGIULO PASCUAL

Mendoza

Jornada; XXXIV Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cuyo Biology Society; 2016

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

D-Phenyl-Alanine (DPA) has a recognized antidepressant action, and it has been shown in several clinical studies. Some patients refer a mild anxiogenic effect receiving it. Due to this reason we studied in the present experiment the possible anxiogenic effect of this drug. Male rats weighing 280-300 g from a Holtzman derived colony were used, divided in four groups. These rats were injected with saline or DPA (7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg) 3 min. before testing. The test was the Plus-Maze test, in the conditions of our laboratory, with the classical parameters. Clear results were obtained with all doses. Time spent in the open arm was significantly decreased by all doses (p