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HERO ID
3981212
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Neonatal blockade of GABA-A receptors alters behavioral and physiological phenotypes in adult mice
Author(s)
Salari, AA; Amani, M
Year
2017
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience
ISSN:
0736-5748
EISSN:
1873-474X
Volume
57
Page Numbers
62-71
Language
English
PMID
28111254
DOI
10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.01.007
Web of Science Id
WOS:000397374400009
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays an inhibitory role in the mature brain, and has a complex and bidirectional effect in different parts of the immature brain which affects proliferation, migration and differentiation of neurons during development. There is also increasing evidence suggesting that activation or blockade of the GABA-A receptors during early life can induce brain and behavioral abnormalities in adulthood. We investigated whether neonatal blockade of the GABA-A receptors by bicuculline can alter anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, body weight, food intake, corticosterone and testosterone levels in adult mice (postnatal days 80-95). To this end, neonatal mice were treated with either DMSO or bicuculline (70, 150 and 300μg/kg) during postnatal days 7, 9 and 11. When grown to adulthood, mice were exposed to behavioral tests to measure anxiety- (elevated plus-maze and light-dark box) and depression-like behaviors (tail suspension test and forced swim test). Stress-induced serum corticosterone and testosterone levels, body weight and food intake were also evaluated. Neonatal bicuculline exposure at dose of 300μg/kg decreased anxiety-like behavior, stress-induced corticosterone levels and increased testosterone levels, body weight and food intake, without significantly influencing depression-like behavior in adult male mice. However, no significant changes in these parameters were observed in adult females. These findings suggest that neonatal blockade of GABA-A receptors affects anxiety-like behavior, physiological and hormonal parameters in a sex-dependent manner in mice. Taken together, these data corroborate the concept that GABA-A receptors during early life have an important role in programming neurobehavioral phenotypes in adulthood.
Tag
IRIS
•
RDX (121-82-4)
SAB 2017 references
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