Search

Summary: 1. The effects of restraint stress on c-fos mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus were investigated byin situ hybridization.2. Confirming previous findings, c-fos mRNA expression increased after 30 min of forced restraint.3. This effect was attenuated by a previous i.c.v. injection of the anxiolytic benzodiazepine midazolam (20 nmol/2 µl) or theN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP-7; 5 nmol/2 µl).4. These results suggest that the dentate gyrus is activated during restraint stress and that this activation may be modulated by benzodiazepine gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) or NMDA receptors.