Effects of valtrate on anxiety models in rats and its possible mechanisms

Aim To study the anxiolytic effects of valtrate on anxiety models and investigate the related mechanisms.Methods The elevated plus-maze test(EPM) and open field were used as in vivo model,and the anxiolytic activities of valtrate were investigated.Then the corticosterone levels in the rat plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Result The valtrate(10 mg·kg-1,ig) exhibited the anxiolytic effect in rats by increasing the time and entry percentage into the open arms in the elevated plus maze and the number of central entries in the open filed.ELISA showed that valtrate significantly reduced the corticosterone level in the rat plasma.Conclusion The valtrate has anxiolytic activity in behavioral models that might be mediated via the function of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA).