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Social isolation does not alter brain regional benzodiazepine binding site numbers, affinity and coupling in the rat

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Abstract

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were differentially housed for 21 days immediately after weaning. Isolated animals showed a selective suppression of exploration of the light side of a two compartment box; spending significantly less time in the light, and making fewer transitions between the light and dark compartments compared to socially reared controls. However, both basal and GABA-stimulated [3H] flunitrazepam binding was unaltered in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebellum following social isolation. These results are discussed in relation to other studies on central benzodiazepine receptor changes following a variety of experimental stressors.

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Morinan, A., Parker, V., Rich, D.A. et al. Social isolation does not alter brain regional benzodiazepine binding site numbers, affinity and coupling in the rat. Psychopharmacology 106, 565–569 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244831

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244831

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