Effects of SB-205384, a positive modulator of ¿3-subunit-containing GABA-A receptors, on isolation-induced aggression in male mice

Résumé 0

"GABA-A receptors are involved in the control of aggressive behaviour. Various studies suggest a rolefor α1-containing GABA-A receptors in modulating aggression. However, the possible involvementof α3 subunit of GABA-A receptors has not been examined. In this study, we analysed the effect ofSB-205384 (0.5-4 mg/kg, i.p), a positive modulator of GABA-A receptors containing α3 subunit, onagonistic behaviour elicited by isolation in male mice. Half of the mice were housed during 30 daysand employed as experimental or control animals; the remainder were used as «opponents» and weretemporally rendered anosmic by zinc sulphate. Individually housed mice were exposed to anosmic opponentsin a neutral area 30 minutes after the drug administration and encounters were videotaped andevaluated using an ethopharmacologically-based analysis. The results indicated that SB-205384 didnot produce any significant behavioural changes, suggesting that GABA-A receptors which contain theα3 subunit may not be involved in the modulation of aggression."