Anti-stress effects of cilnidipine and nimodipine in immobilization subjected mice

The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorative role of cilnidipine and nimodipine in immobilization stress-induced behavioral alterations and memory defects in the mice. Acute stress was induced by immobilizing the mice for 150 min and stress-induced behavioral changes were assessed using actophotometer, hole board, open field and social interaction tests. The learning and memory was evaluated using elevated plus maze tests and biochemically, the corticosterone levels were measured in the blood serum. Acute immobilization stress resulted in decrease in locomotor activity, frequency of head dips and rearings in hole board; line crossing and rearing in the open field; increase in avoidance in social behavior along with development of memory deficits assessed by an increased transfer latency time and elevation of the corticosterone levels. Administration of cilnidipine (10 mg/kg), an L and N-type dual Calcium Channel blocker, and nimodipine (10 mg/kg), an L-type calcium channel blocker, significantly attenuated the immobilized stress-induced behavioral changes and restored memory deficits along with normalization of the corticosterone levels. Cilnidipine and nimodipine produced comparable beneficial effects in restoring immobilization stress subjected mice. It may be concluded that cilnidipine and nimodipine mediated attenuation of corticosterone release by blockage of calcium channels (both L and N-type) on the HPA-axis is responsible for beneficial effects in restoration of behavioral alterations and memory deficits in immobilization-induced acute stress in mice.