Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 reduces the development of amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization: effects on hippocampal type II corticosteroid receptors

Pretreatment of rats with the extract of Ginkgo biloba termed EGb761 reduce d the behavioral sensitization induced by successive D-amphetamine administ rations (0.5 mg/kg) as estimated by increasing values of locomotor activity . EGb761 pretreatment also prevented the reduced density of [H-3]dexamethas one binding sites in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 hippocampal regions of D -amphetamine treated animals. These observations suggest that EGb761, by re ducing glucocorticoid levels, could modulate the activity of the neuronal s ystems involved in the expression of the behavioral sensitization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.