Epilepsy & Behavior 2009-01-01

Genetically inbred Balb/C mice are more sensitive to an effect of flurazepam and more resistant to an effect of stress than a genetically outbred mouse strain

Jessica A. Burket, John Mastropaolo, Richard B. Rosse, Stephen I. Deutsch, Jessica A. Burket, John Mastropaolo, Richard B. Rosse, Stephen I. Deutsch, Jessica A. Burket, John Mastropaolo, Richard B. Rosse, Stephen I. Deutsch

Index: Epilepsy Behav. 16(3) , 415-7, (2009)

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Abstract

The inbred Balb/c mouse strain was more sensitive than the outbred NIH Swiss mouse to flurazepam’s ability to antagonize electrically precipitated seizures. In prior work, a reduction in flurazepam’s antiseizure efficacy was not observed 24 h after forcing Balb/c mice to swim for up to 10 min in ambient temperature water. Thus, we wondered if a stress-induced reduction would be observed after forcing mice to swim for up to 10 min in cold (6 °C) water, a more severe stress. The current data show that 24 h after exposure to this stress, the ability of flurazepam to raise the threshold voltage for the elicitation of tonic hindlimb extension in the Balb/c mouse strain was reduced. The genetically inbred Balb/c mouse strain is emerging as an interesting animal model in which to study interactions of stress and genetic factors that affect endogenous neurotransmission mediated by l-glutamate and GABA at the NMDA and GABA A receptor complexes, respectively.