An increase in GABA content in Hippocampus of Albino rats exposed to chronic restraint model and treated by Quetiapine for 3 weeks

Abstract

Quetiapine is a novel antipsychotic drug. However, there is limited clinical evidence regarding prescribing patterns for quetiapine when used as maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder. Thirty-six albino rats were divided into 3 equal groups: control normal group [1] without exposure to chronic restraint for 6 hours daily/21 days, group [2] received DMSO 5% (v:v), as a solvent of quetiapine, with exposure to chronic restraint for 6 hours daily/21 days and group [3] received quetiapine 10 mg/kg/day ip for 3 weeks during exposure to chronic restraint for 6 hours daily/21 days. Intraperitoneal (ip) administration of quetiapine at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks significantly (p<0.05) reduces the duration of immobility recorded by the forced swimming test (FST) and significantly (p<0.05) increases the contents of GABA neurotransmitter in hippocampus homogenates. The present study adds a positive implication of quetiapine, as an antipsychotic drug, on both the immobility and the reduction of GABA content in hippocampus of albino rats exposed restraint model for 21 days.