Differences in the behavior of two line C57BL /6 and BALB/C mice in the «open field» test in the background of pregabalin

Summary. The The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of mice of two inbred strains C57Bl/6 and BALB/c in the “open fi eld” test, as well as the effect of the drug with anxiolytic activity Lyrica® (INN: pregabalin) on their behavior under test conditions. The experiment used 20 male mice of the strain C57Bl and 20 male mice of the strain BALB/c. Pregabalin was administered intragastrically during 14 days in dose 10 mg/kg. Control animals received vehicle in a volume corresponding to the volume of drug administration. The “open fi eld” test was performed on the 14th day of administration (1 hour after the administration of pregabalin and the vehicle); the duration of testing for each animal was 5 minutes. The approximate research activity of the animals was assessed by a number of elementary motor acts and postures, the totality of which characterizes integral behavior during testing in the «open fi eld» test. The following indicators were including: the number of crossed squares in the periphery; the number of central squares entries; the number of rearing; the number of nose-poke; the number of urination and defecation. The analysis of the obtained results showed that in C57Bl/6 mice with a predominance of the active type of behavior, the drug «Lyrica®», when administered for 14 days, had a weak anxiolytic effect, which was of a sedative feature. In contrast, in BALB/c mice with a predominantly passive type of behavior, course administration of pregabalin had a pronounced anti-anxiety effect, which was characterized by an increase in active behavior and exploratory activity responses to novelty or anxiogenic environment in the test. The results obtained in two inbred strains of mice with different behavioral phenotypes (response to stress) may help to identify the genetic and biological bases of strategies for coping with stress in humans. In the future, such data may contribute to a more personalized approach to the treatment of neurotic syndromes in patients with depressive-like behavior. .