Effects of gabapentin on post traumatic stress disorder in rats

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of gabapentin administered systemically by oral gavage on anxiety index, freezing time, pellet/stool count, weight difference, salivary gland immunoglobulin A level, plasma estrogen and progesterone levels, plasma neurotrophin levels in a predatory odor rat model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two female Wistar rats were used in the study. Animals in the trauma and treatment groups were exposed to predatory odor stress. One week later, saline was administered to the control and trauma groups, and 30 mg/kg gabapentin were administered to the gabapentin and treatment groups by oral gavage. The behavior of the rats exposed to the trauma reminder following the treatments was monitored in the elevated plus maze. At the end of the experiment, the animals whose salivary gland and blood samples were taken were sacrificed. Results: The freezing time, which increased in the trauma group compared to the control group, was reversed with gabapentin administered systemically via oral gavage. Gabapentin increased salivary gland immunoglobulin A levels in both the gabapentin and treatment groups, but did not change pellet/stool count, weight difference, plasma estrogen and progesterone levels, as well as plasma neurotrophin levels. Conclusion: More studies are needed to understand the efficacy of gabapentin in post-traumatic stress disorder. Keywords: Anxiety index, freezing time, salivary immunoglobulin A, BDNF, proBDNF