EFFECTS OF GANAXOLONE AND DIAZEPAM ON ANXIETY, SEDATION, AND MOTOR COORDINATION: A PRECLINICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Presently, treatment of anxiety with standard anti-anxiety drugs is associated with a number of shortcomings inviting us to study newer agents that would overcome these problems or search for the drugs or substances, which would enhance the efficacy or reduce the dose or toxicity of this standard anti-anxiety drug diazepam. Ganaxolone (GNX) a positive allosteric modulator of GABA_A receptors, may represent a new treatment approach for anxiety. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti – anxiety effect of ganaxolone in comparison with diazepam and also to study their effect on sleep and motor co-ordination using elevated plus maze, thiopentone sodium induced sleeping and rotarod model in rodents. Wistar strain albino rats weighing 200-250 gm were used. Ganaxolone produced significant anti-anxiety effect compared to control group but the activity was less when compared to diazepam.  The sedative and muscle relaxant properties of ganaxolone were weak as compared to diazepam. Ganaxolone had significant synergistic effect with diazepam by potentiating its actions, thereby  providing a  lead  for  exploring potential  benefit  of  adding  ganaxolone  to decrease the dose of diazepam  in  the  treatment  of  anxiety.