Authors
Abstract
Background and purpose: One of the factors relations to anxiety is the change in endocrine hormones. Previous studies suggest that glucocorticoids might have a modulatory role in fear and anxiety. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the role of hydrocortisole in modulating the mice anxiety in elevated plus maze.
Material and Methods: In this experimental study, 70 male mice (25-30 gr). Were randomly assigned into test, sham and control groups. The test mice received different doses of hydrocortisole (10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg, S.C) as the agonist receptor of glucocorticoids; the sham group received the same volume of ethanol 2% plus saline, which was injected 30 minutes prior to anxiety assessment. The control group receined nothing. In order to increase the animals, activity and curiosity, they were led into a black box with checked walls for 5 minutes. Then, each animal was taken to the maze (a standard device for research purposes) at regular intervals. Evaluation indexes and anxiety reactions (frequency of entening into open armr and the time spent) were observed and recorded.
Results: the results indicated that hydrocortisole (20 and 50 mg) had significantly increased the frequency and duration of entrance into open arms, which is a sign of reducing anxiety (P
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