Antidepressant-like effects of an apolar extract and chow enriched with Nepeta cataria (catnip) in mice

Nepeta cataria (catnip) is a plant used in pet toys and to treat human diseases. Catnip has also been used in the treatment of some depressive disorders. In this paper, we studied the antidepressant, anxiogenic, and motor activity effects of acute and repeated feeding of chow enriched with 10 percent N. cataria leaves and the acute and repeated administration of apolar and polar extracts of N. cataria leaves in male mice. The results showed that repeated feeding and acute and repeated administration with the apolar extract reduced immobility in the behavioral despair test but did not alter elevated plus maze and open-field parameters. Acute feeding and the acute and repeated administration of the polar extracts of N. cataria leaves did not alter the behavior of mice. These data suggest that N. cataria has antidepressant properties. Moreover, this antidepressant activity was present in the apolar extract.(AU)

Antidepressant-like effects of an apolar extract and chow enriched with Nepeta cataria (catnip) in mice

Nepeta cataria (catnip) is a plant used in pet toys and to treat human diseases. Catnip has also been used in the treatment of some depressive disorders. In this paper, we studied the antidepressant, anxiogenic, and motor activity effects of acute and repeated feeding of chow enriched with 10 percent N. cataria leaves and the acute and repeated administration of apolar and polar extracts of N. cataria leaves in male mice. The results showed that repeated feeding and acute and repeated administration with the apolar extract reduced immobility in the behavioral despair test but did not alter elevated plus maze and open-field parameters. Acute feeding and the acute and repeated administration of the polar extracts of N. cataria leaves did not alter the behavior of mice. These data suggest that N. cataria has antidepressant properties. Moreover, this antidepressant activity was present in the apolar extract

Effects of perinatal picrotoxin and sexual experience on heterosexual and homosexual behavior in male rats.

The effects of perinatal picrotoxin (0.75 mg/kg) on heterosexual and homosexual behavior of male rats, sexually experienced or not, were studied. The following data were obtained: (1) at birth, body weight and anogenital distance were not modified by the treatment; (2) during lactation, both treatment and sex interfered with body weight as well as in adult age; (3) as experimental animals were trained, the heterosexual behavior was improved; (4) picrotoxin treatment reduced lordotic response of homosexual behavior in inexperienced male rats and (5) the heterosexual experience with female rats inhibited homosexual behavior of both experimental and control animals. These results suggest that perinatal maternal picrotoxin exposure improved heterosexual behavior in male rats and the sexual experience reveals this effect. In addition, picrotoxin did not induce feminization in experimental inexperienced rats. Finally, the sexual experience per se promotes changes in brain regions related to male behavioral and sexual aspects.