Anxiolytic and sedative effects of sodium valproate with different experimental paradigms in male and female rats.

ABSTRACT: Valproic acid or sodium valproate is a widely used drug in the treatment of epilepsy, although it also appears to have anxiolytic and sedative properties derived from its agonistic action on the GABAergic system. To analyze these potential effects of the drug, we conducted three experiments with rats using procedures designed to assess anxiety in rodents. In the first experiment, with a fear conditioning procedure, three groups of male rats were included that received either 100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg of valproate or an equivalent volume of saline solution. In Experiment 2, recording spontaneous activity in an open field, we compared the effects of valproic acid (300 mg/kg) on male and female rats. In the third experiment, we analyzed the effect of valproic acid using a novelty-induced hypopha

SUBMITTER: de Los Angeles Cintado M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11609752 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature