ALTERATIONS IN GABA(A) RECEPTOR-BINDING IN THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO CHRONIC STRESS

The present study was designed to examine the effects of chronic stres s on GABA(A) receptor binding. Animals were randomly assigned to eithe r a control, acute, or chronic stress condition and changes in specifi c binding were assessed using the GABA(A) receptor antagonist [H-3]SR 95531. Exposure to chronic restraint stress led to a significant reduc tion in GABA(A) receptor binding in the prefrontal cortex. Alterations in specific binding were not observed in the cerebellum, caudate-puta men, hippocampus, or cingulate cortex however, suggesting that the eff ects of chronic stress may be regionally specific. Exposure to acute r estraint did not lead to a significant alteration in [H-3]SR 95531 bin ding in any brain region examined.