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EFFECTS OF TWO IMIDAZOLINE RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS IN SPONTANEOUS BEHAVIOUR IN RATS

GABRIELA RUSU1, CATALINA ELENA LUPUSORU1*, LILIANA MITITELU TARTAU1, GRATIELA POPA2, NELA BIBIRE3, RAOUL VASILE LUPUSORU4, ANA-CATERINA CRISTOFOR1, MIHAI NECHIFOR1

1.University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Grigore T. Popa’, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology-Algesiology, Universitatii St. no. 16, code 700115, Iasi, Romania
2 .University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Grigore T. Popa’, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Universitatii St. no. 16, code 700115, Iasi, Romania
3 .University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Grigore T. Popa’, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Universitatii St. no. 16, code 700115, Iasi, Romania
4 .University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Grigore T. Popa’, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Patho-Physiology, Universitatii St. no. 16, code 700115, Iasi, Romania

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We aimed to investigate the effects of imidazoline receptor antagonists’ idazoxan and efaroxan on spontaneous behaviour in rats. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with single doses of either idazoxan (1 mg/kgbw) and efaroxan (3 mg/kgbw) or distilled water (0.3 mL/ 100 g body weight). Locomotor activity and exploratory behaviour of the animals were evaluated using the LE-8811 Actimeter PanLAB device in order to count the number of horizontal, vertical and stereotypic movements. The data were presented as mean ± standard deviation, statistical significance being calculated using the ANOVA test of the SPSS 17.00 Statistics software. Intraperitoneal administration of idazoxan and efaroxan resulted in a reduction of rat horizontal, vertical and stereotypic movements, statistically significant compared to control group. The effects of idazoxan were more intense than those of efaroxan in this experimental behavioural model. We can conclude that the treatment with both imidazoline receptor antagonists was associated with important sedative effects in the Actimeter test in rats.