Effects of SB-205384, a positive modulator of alpha3-subunit-containing GABA-A receptors, on isolation-induced aggression in male mice.

GABA-A receptors are involved in the control of aggressive behaviour. Various studies suggest a role for a1-containing GABA-A receptors in modulating aggression. However, the possible involvement of a3 subunit of GABA-A receptors has not been examined. In this study, we analysed the effect of SB-205384 (0.5-4 mg/kg, i.p), a positive modulator of GABA-A receptors containing a3 subunit, on agonistic behaviour elicited by isolation in male mice. Half of the mice were housed during 30 days and employed as experimental or control animals; the remainder were used as <<opponents>> and were temporally rendered anosmic by zinc sulphate. Individually housed mice were exposed to anosmic opponents in a neutral area 30 minutes after the drug administration and encounters were videotaped and evaluated using an ethopharmacologically-based analysis. The results indicated that SB-205384 did not produce any significant behavioural changes, suggesting that GABA-A receptors which contain the a3 subunit may not be involved in the modulation of aggression.