Analgesic, learning and memory and anxiolytic effects of insulin in mice

The results obtained showed that insulin has no analgesic activity, however, it caused significant central inhibitory effects by decreasing both locomotor activity in both holeboard and Y-maze models and also decreased the exploratory behaviour in holeboard at doses administered dose-dependently indicating its sedative effects. In elevated plus maze, insulin had no effects on percentage of open arm entries at all doses but had a significant effect on percentage of open arm duration at the dose of 1.0 IU/kg only. Insulin administration at lower doses (0.5 and 1.0 IU/kg, i.p.) had no effect on spatial working memory, however, it had significant spatial working memory impairment at the dose of 2.0 IU/kg, i.p. in mice. The study showed that insulin has several neuropharmacological effects at doses used.