Gangliosides Attenuate Stress-Induced Changes on Body Weight, Motor Activity and on the Behavioral Response to 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine

L. M. CANCELA, 1 M. VOLOSIN AND V. A. MOLINA

BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 1996 p. 105 - 110

0361-9230

ABSTRACT: The major goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of gangliosides (GANG) treatment on the onset of adaptive changes and the sequelae induced by stress exposure. With this purpose, the behavioral response to 5-motoxy-N,N-dimethylbvptamine (5-MeODMT, 5 mglkg, IP) and motor activity were evaluated in rats previously submitted either to a single restraint session (2 h) or to a daily restraint event for 3 consscutive days, combined or not to GANG administration (30 mglkg IP). GANG was always injected 2 h before stress exposure. In addition, differences in body weights were recorded throughout the experiments. A similar behavioral response after 5-MeODMT was observed between saline (SAL) and GANG unstressed rats. Exposure to one or three restraint sessions did not modify the behavioral response to 5-MeODMT, whereas the association of GANG and stress during 3 consecutive days enhanced forepaw treading and hindlimb abduction. SAL-treatsd animals submitted to a single or to three stressful stimuli showed reduced Iocomotion and rearing. The combination of GANG end stress for 3 days, but not after a unique association, reversed the decrease on motor activity induced by the avereive experience. The decreese of body weights produced by one or three stress sossions was recovered only in animals treated with GANG and stress for 3 days. These findings suggest that GANG may accelerate the onset of adaptive changes on 5-HT1 sites and attenuate certain sequelae induced by previous stress experience.