ANXIOLYTIC AND ANTIDEPRESSANT-LIKE EFFECTS OF GARUM ARMORICUM® (GA), A BLUE LING FISH PROTEIN AUTOLYSATE IN MALE WISTAR RATS

The anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of Garum Armoricum (R) (GA), a protein autolysate from the blue ling fish, were studied in male Wistar rats using the conditioned defensive burying (CDB) and the forced swimming (FST) tests, respectively. In the CDB, all doses of GA (25,50 and 100 mg/kg, PO) decreased the global score of anxiety and the latency of the first approach towards the probe after shock, in a similar way to diazepam (DZP) at the dose of 3 mg/kg, PO. But unlike DZP, the latency before touching again the probe after shock was not significantly reduced by GA. In the FST the two higher doses of GA (15 and 45 mg/kg PO) reduced immobility time in a similar way to imipramine (IMI) at the dose of 20 mg/hg, PO. But unlike IMI, GA did not reduce open-field activity and, unlike DZA did not cause a place preference to develop. These results indicate the potential anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like properties of GA in the absence of any change in cerebral activation and dependence. These psychotropic properties of GA may be due to the synergistic action of its active constituents.