Dissecting the role of diazepam-sensitive γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors in defensive behavioral reactivity to mild threat

Koester, Christina; Rudolph, Uwe; Haenggi, Tatjana; Papilloud, Aurélie; Fritschy, Jean-Marc; Crestani, Florence

doi:10.5167/uzh-74261

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Koester, C., Rudolph, U., Haenggi, T., Papilloud, A., Fritschy, J.-M., & Crestani, F. (2013). Dissecting the role of diazepam-sensitive γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors in defensive behavioral reactivity to mild threat. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 103(3), 541–549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2012.10.004

Abstract

Moderate reductions in synaptic γ-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs) have been associated with an enhanced defensive behavioral reactivity to mild threat, sensitive to diazepam. We here tested whether a deficit in α2 subunit-containing GABAergic synapses is sufficient to cause this anxiety-related phenotype and to prevent its attenuation by the benzodiazepine. Wild type (α2+/+), heterozygous (α2+/-) and homozygous (α2-/-) knock-out littermates were tested in the free-choice exploratory (FCE) and the light/dark choice (LDC) par