Evaluation of the Effect of Galanin and Exercise on Anxiety in Rats by Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze Tests

Aim: Anxiety, known as worry, considered normal in everyday life, and also it is a type of behavior developed to protect the organism. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exogenous galanin given with exercise on anxiety. Material and Methods: In this study 96 adult male Wistar Albino rats were used. Rats were divided into 8 groups with twelve animals, and 4 of the groups were given regular exercise for 6 weeks. Galanin was administered intraperitoneally (IP) and intracerebroventricular (ICV) in half of the groups and saline was injected into the control group of each group with the same methods. At the end of the sixth week, open field and elevated plus maze tests were applied to the rats, and these tests recorded with the camera. The recordings of the both tests were analyzed, and total distance and speed values, the time spent in the open field test and the time spent in the closed arm of elevated plus maze were compared. Results: In the open field test were determined that in general, the total distance (p<0.001) and the speed increased (p<0.001) in rats injected with ICV compared to the rats injected with IP. There is no significant difference was detected in terms of exercise and galanin interaction. Also the total distance (p=0,032) and the speed increased (p=0,010) in rats injected with ICV compared to the rats injected with IP. In elevated plus maze test, exercise and galanin interaction were not found to be statistically significant, however the interaction between the injection pattern and the given substance was found to be significant in terms of time spent in the closed arm (p=0.020) and speed (p=0.032). Conclusion: Although it has been shown that central administration of galanin may have anxiolytic activity, this effect has not changed with exercise, and also it has been determined that exercise with galanin has no effect on this activity