GABAergic modulation of the stress response in frontal cortex and amygdala

MARTIJENA, I.D; RODRIGUEZ MANZANARES, PABLO; LACERRA, C.; MOLINA, VICTOR A.

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2002 vol. 45 p. 86 - 86

ABAergic neurotransmission is thought to play an important role inthe modulation of the central response to stress. In the present study we evaluate theinfluence of a brief restraint exposure on GABA-stimulated chloride influx in diversebrain areas presumed to have a major role in the mediation of emotional behaviorsfollowing aversive stimulation.Areduced chloride uptake after stress exposure was onlyobserved in frontal cortex and amygdala. Moreover, rats subjected to such stressorperformed an anxiogenic behavior when exposed later to the elevated plus-maze. Acomparable behavior in the elevated plus-maze was observed between animals that wereallowed to chew during the restraint experience and those without any stressful manipulation,suggesting that chewing served as an efficient coping behavioral strategy duringsuch threatening situations. In order to explore if chewing during the restraint experiencecould suppress the