Effects of selective NMDA and non-NMDA blockade in the nucleus accumbens on the plus-maze test

Effect of blocking N-methyl- d-aspartic acid (NMDA) and non-NMDA-glutamatergic receptors on performance in the plus-maze was studied in male rats bilaterally cannulated into the nucleus accumbens (Acc). Rats were divided into seven groups that received either 1 μl injections of saline, (±)2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP-7, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 μg) or 2,3 dioxo-6-nitro-1,2,3,4,tetrahydrobenzo-( f)quinoxaline-7-sulphonamide disodium (NBQX, 0.2, 0.5, or 1 μg) 15 min before testing. Time spent in open arm, time per entry, end arrivals, open, closed, and total arm entries, relationship between open-, closed-, and total arm entries, rearing, face-, head-, and body grooming, and number of fecal boli were recorded. Time spent in the open arm increased under AP-7 (0.5 and 1 μg; P