ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, vol.227, no.S722, pp.93, 2019 (SCI-Expanded)
AIM: In our study, the effect of acute gabapentin on locomotor
activity and anxiety-like behavior in Balb/c mice administered
with MK-801 was evaluated in the open-field test.
METHODS: In present study, 8-10 weeks old 19 male adult
Balb/c mice were used. Mice were administered
uncompetetive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor
blocker MK-801 (0.5mg/kg dose, 0.1mL/kg body weight). The
same volume of saline (0.9%NaCl) was injected
intraperitoneally to the mice in the control group. Gabapentin
was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg 30 min. after MK-
801 administration. Mice were tested with open-field test 30
min. after injection. The locomotor activity and anxiety-like
behavior of the mice were recorded with a video-camera for 5
min and scored with the ETHOVISION XT program. Data
were analyzed using Mann-Whitney-u test was used following
Kruskal-Wallis. Ethics committee approval C.U. animal
experiments were taken from the local ethics committee with
the decision number 3/8, dated 09.05.2019.
RESULTS: The time spent in the center of the MK-801 group
compared with the control group increased, latency to the
center and the frequency of rearing decreased (p<0.05).
Gabapentin administration after MK-801 injection decreased
the frequency of rearing in mice compared to the group of
administered gabapentin (p<0.05) and did not significantly
change the latency to the center and the time spent in the
center.
CONCLUSION: MK-801-induced NMDA blockade reduced
anxiety-like behavior in the open-field test. Gabapentin did not
change this effect of MK-801.In conclusion, it can be argued
that the effects of NMDA receptor blockade in the open-field
test cannot be altered by the increase in acute GABA level.
Keywords: Balb/c mouse, gabapentin, MK-801, open field
test, schizophrenia.