Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences (ISSN 2358-2731)



Home Archive v. 3, no. 6 (2016) Gargiulo

 

Vol. 3, No. 6, p. 257-262 - Dec. 31, 2016

 

Sedative-like effect of intraperitoneal GABA administration in the open field test



Augusto Pascual Ítalo Gargiulo , Santiago Marquez Herrero , Esteban Romanowicz , Manuel Alejandro Guevara , Adriana Inés Landa , José Vicente Lafuente , Humberto Luis Mesones and Pascual Ángel Gargiulo

Abstract
Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) is the main inhibitor neurotransmitter of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Its peripheral administration has been matter of discussion. On the one hand, it has been reported that it does not cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), and, on the other hand, it has been associated with multiple therapeutic regimens and supplements by peripheral administration. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the possibility of a central sedative effect when administered peripherally. An experimental cohort of 90-day-old Holtzman male rats weighing 240-270 g was used. It was divided into 2 groups: saline-controls (n = 9) and GABA treated rats (12.5 mg/kg, n = 9). Both groups were intraperitoneally injected. The motor behavioral patterns displayed in the Opto Varimex (OVM) were studied. Vertical, horizontal, ambulatory and non-ambulatory movements and the number of movements were recorded in an automated way. Horizontal movements constitute the integration of ambulatory and non-ambulatory movements. Student t test was used comparing groups. In this experiment, there were non-significant downward trends in vertical, ambulatory, non-ambulatory and number of movements. Ambulatory and non-ambulatory tendencies acquired significance when treated together as horizontal movements (p < 0.05). We may conclude that peripheral administration of GABA produced a decrease of the horizontal movements in the open field test. It may be interpreted as a sedative effect, suggesting a passage of GABA through BBB, with central effects. However, there are several alternative possibilities to explain present findings. Other experiments will elucidate the implications or scope of the present findings.


Keywords
Gamma-amino-butiric acid (GABA); Sedation; Blood brain barrier (BBB); Rat; Behavior.

DOI
10.21472/bjbs.030602

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