GABAergic influence on the effects of elymoclavine on exploratory behaviour of rats in open field.

The GABAergic influence on the effects of the ergot alkaloid elymoclavine on exploratory behaviour of rats in open field was studied using pharmacological tools. GABA was found to reduce the elymoclavine-stimulated exploratory behaviour. The GABAergic antagonists picrotoxin and bicuculline reversed the influence of GABA on the elymoclavine effects. The indirect GABA mimetics nipecotic acid, aminooxyacetic acid, di-n-propylacetate and semicarbazide also reduced the behavioural effects of elymoclavine. The data suggest some role of different functional states of the GABA system and of the close relationship between GABA and DA in the brain in the effects of elymoclavine on exploratory behaviour.