Role of the GABAB receptors in the effects induced by nicotine on anxiety-like behaviour in mice

VARANI ANDRES; CALVO MARIELA; MOUTINHO LIRANE; INDUNI ANDREA S; BALERIO GRACIELA

Rosario. Santa Fe.

Congreso; XLI Reunión anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental; 2009

Sociedad Argentina de Farmacologia Experimental

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible involvement of the GABAergic system in the anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like responses induced by nicotine (NIC) in mice, using both pharmacological and genetic approaches. Animals were only exposed once to NIC. The acute administration of low (0.05 mg/kg, sc) or high (0.8 mg/kg, sc) doses of NIC produced opposite effects in the elevated plus maze, anxiolytic- anxiogenic-like responses, respectively. The effects of the pretreatment with the GABAB receptor antagonist, 2-OH Saclofen (SAC) (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg; ip) and the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen (BAC) (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg; ip), were evaluated on the anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like responses induced by NIC. SAC completely abolished these NIC-induced effects (p