Effect of squash product enriched with gamma-aminobutyric acid on relief of stress of rats and mice

Squash products are rich in gamma-Aminobutyric acid. Animal experiments were performed in order to investigate that stress of rats and mice could be reduced by oral ingestion of a squash product. Oral administration of the squash product to rats were carried out single time and multiple times. Then the rats were given stress of smelling ether, and the quantities of adrenal-cortex stimulus hormone, serotonin and thyroid hormone in blood were measured as stress indices. As compared with the a control group without oral ingestion of the squash product, in the rats that had oral ingestion of 600 mg/kg/day squash product for 6 days, the amount of adrenal-cortex stimulus hormone fell significantly and the reduction in the amounts of serotonin and thyroid hormone was eased. Oral administration of the squash product to mice were also carried out, and then thiopental anesthesia time was measured. As compared with mice that didn't have oral ingestion of the squash product, thiopental anesthesia time was extended in the test group. We concluded that when provided to rats and mice, the squash product acted on their central nerves and had the effect of relieving their stress.