The study of the role of GABAa receptors during fetal development on the levels of cytokines in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of NMRI mouse offsprings

Aim and Many studies have found an association between inflammation and mental disorders such as anxiety and depression in different regions of the brain. Inflammatory factors cause increase in cytokines levels. On the other hand elevated levels of cytokine are associated with several neurological disorders, including anxiety, depression, Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases. GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric acid) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. Many studies have proven the role of GABA in mental disorders including anxiety, depression. The present study investigates the effects of GABA agonists and antagonists on the levels of inflammatory factors and cytokines levels in offsprings. In the present study, the pregnant female rats in their late pregnancy were treated for 3 days, from 16th to 18th day of gestation, with the antagonist or agonist GABAa receptor with 10, 50, 100, 500 and 700 μg / kg of Muscimol and 20, 70, 140, 500 and 800 μg / kg of Bicuculline. After the treatment, the cytokines levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were measured in offsprings. The measurement was carried out by ELIZA technique. Our results showed that the treatment on pregnant female rats in their late pregnancy (16th to 18th day of gestation for 3 days(with antagonist (bicuculline) or agonist (muscimol) of GABAa receptor which were 500 and 700 μg / kg for muscimol 140 and 500 μg / kg for bicuculline, had no effect on the levels of cytokines. In conclusion, these studies showed that the blockage of GABA receptor plays no role in the inflammatory factors and cytokines.