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

Epilepsy Behav. 2009 Nov;16(3):415-7. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.08.013. Epub 2009 Sep 16.

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 24h 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 degrees 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.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electroshock / adverse effects
  • Flurazepam / pharmacology
  • Flurazepam / therapeutic use*
  • Hindlimb / drug effects
  • Hindlimb / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Stress, Psychological / drug therapy*
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology
  • Stress, Psychological / genetics*

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Flurazepam