Anxiety-like behaviour and <i>c-fos</i> expression in rats that inhaled vetiver essential oil

<div><p>Vetiver essential oil (VEO) has been used in aromatherapy for relaxation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of VEO on an anxiety-related behavioural model (the elevated plus-maze, EPM) and immediate-early gene <i>c-fos</i> in amygdala, known to be involved in anxiety. Male Wistar rats were administered diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.) for 30 min or inhalated with VEO (1%, 2.5% or 5% w/w) for 7 min prior to exposure to the EPM. Then, the effects of 2.5% VEO, the anxiolytic dose, on c-<i>fos</i> expression in amygdala were investigated. The rats given either 2.5% VEO or diazepam exhibited an anxiolytic-like profile in the EPM. VEO and diazepam significantly increased <i>c-fos</i> expression in the lateral division of the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeL). Therefore, the anxiolytic properties of VEO might be associated with altering neuronal activation in CeL. However, future studies are needed to investigate the precise mechanism of action of VEO.</p></div

Confocal microscopy of cryosection of inferior colliculus slices stained with anti glutamic acid decarboxylase (green) and anti μ-opioid receptor antibodies (red)

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Opioid modulation of GABA release in the rat inferior colliculus"</p><p>BMC Neuroscience 2004;5():31-31.</p><p>Published online 7 Sep 2004</p><p>PMCID:PMC517931.</p><p>Copyright © 2004 Tongjaroenbungam et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.</p> A : Central nucleus of inferior colliculus. B: Pericentral nucleus of inferior colliculus. Arrow head: example of GABAergic neurons not containing μ-opioid receptor (Green). Arrows: example of GABAergic neuron containing μ-opioid receptor (Yellow)