Nitrergic signaling modulation by ascorbic acid treatment is responsible for anxiolysis in mouse model of anxiety.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) treatment on the anxiety related behavioral and neurochemical alterations. AA (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to the mice and anxiety related behavior and levels of glutamate and nitrite in the brain of mice were determined. The results obtained revealed that the administration of AA (100 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the anxiety related behavior and the levels of nitrite in the brain of mice. Nitrergic interactions were further determined by the pretreatment of mice with nitric oxide (NO) modulator and AA treatment followed by behavioral and neurochemical measurements. The results obtained suggested that NO inhibition potentiated the anxiolytic like activity of AA in mice. It was also observed that the glutamate and nitrite level in the brain of mice were significantly reduced by the NO inhibitor pretreatment. Thus, the present study demonstrated the possible nitrergic pathways modulation in the anxiolytic like activity of AA in mice.