ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
β-Carboline
;
Benzodiazepines
;
Anxiety
;
Food intake
;
Aggression
;
FG 7142
;
Pentylenetetrazol
;
Caffeine
;
Lactation
;
Maternal behaviour
;
Sex hormones
;
Rat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Mother rats nursing large litters are hyperphagic, aggressive towards conspecifics, and show less freezing behaviour than non-maternal animals. These naturally occurring adaptations resemble those elicited by benzodiazepine treatment in virgin rats, indicating a common neurochemical change in the brains of mother rats and benzodiazepine-treated virgins. In line with this hypothesis, it was found that three functional benzodiazepine antagonists (FG 7142, pentylenetetrazol, caffeine) decreased food intake, lowered aggression and strengthened freezing in lactating mother rats. These psychopharmacological observations support the idea that GABA neurotransmission is enhanced during motherhood in the rat.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00432226
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