Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013711 | Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior | 2009 | 5 Pages |
The present study evaluated the effects of acute and chronic restraint stress (RS 1 h or 6 h), and their modulation by nitrergic agents on neurobehavioral and oxidative stress markers in rats. Acute RS (1 h or 6 h) reduced open arm entries (OAE) and open arm time (OAT) in the elevated plus maze test — which were attenuated by the NO precursor, L-arginine but not influenced appreciably by the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME. These behavioral changes were associated with differential changes in brain NO metabolites (NOx) but consistently reduced GSH and raised MDA levels in comparison to the control group. Following RS 1 h × 10 the neurobehavioral suppression and changes in brain oxidative stress markers were less pronounced as compared to the acute RS (1 h) group indicating adaptation. L-arginine pretreatment facilitated this adaptation to chronic RS (1 h). Interestingly RS 6 h × 10, induced severe behavioral suppression and aggravation of MDA and NOx levels and L-NAME pretreatment tended to protect against these chronic RS induced aggravations. These results suggest that acute and chronic RS induces duration/intensity dependent neurobehavioral and oxidative injury which are under the differential regulatory control of NO.