EFFECT OF DIAZEPAM AND BICUCULLINE IN BODY WEIGHT REGULATION: POSSIBLE ROLE OF GABA TYPE A RECEPTOR

Arcuate nucleus GABAergic system plays an important role in the energy balance evidenced by various studies. The present study was designed to investigate the involvement of GABA type A receptor in experimental obesity. In the present study effects of chronic administration of diazepam (0.5 and 1mg/kg/day, i.p) and bicuculline (0.6 and 1.25mg/kg/day, i.p) specific GABA type A receptor agonist and antagonist respectively for 8 weeks along with high fat diet to the obese rats which were pre-treated with high fat diet feeding for 8 weeks on the various parameters of obesity were analysed. Treatment with bicuculline (0.6 and 1.25mg/kg/day, i.p) produced significant dose dependent decrease (p < 0.05) in various parameters of obesity as compared to high fat diet group. Diazepam (0.5 and 1mg/kg/day, i.p) produced dose dependent increase in the feeding behaviour in experimental obese rats, while the other parameters were not significantly altered with chronic administration of diazepam as compared to high fat diet control group. Diazepam a negatively alter the parameters of obesity, while the bicuculline positively modulate the parameters of obesity. The present data demonstrated that high fat diet induced obesity was prevented by GABA type A receptor blocker bicuculline. The diazepam a GABA type A receptor agonist increased the feeding behaviour in rats and promote the fat deposition which in-turn result in obese rats, while this effect was not significantly differ from the alone high fat diet group. These findings give the strong evidence of involvement of GABA type A receptor in obesity.