The role of memantine on inhibition of glutamatergic N-methyl D-aspartate receptor within the nucleus accumbens core upon the metabolic effects of chronic stress in male Wistar rats

In the present study, the effect of memantine treatment, a noncompetitive N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, on inhibition of glutamatergic NMDA receptor within the nucleus accumbens core upon the metabolic effects of chronic stress in male Wistar rats has been investigated. Chronic stress-induced adult male Wistar rats were divided into 2 main groups, exposed to peritoneal or nucleus accumbens core memantine administration for 7 contiguous days. The metabolic effects of this treatment in terms of weight changes, food and water intake, anorexia time, corticosterone level and adrenal weight changes were measured. Administration of 5 ?g/rat memantine into nucleus accumbens core resulted in increased weight, food and water intake and decreased anorexia time, plasma corticosterone level and adrenal weight. In comparison, memantine injection prefrontally, in both 1 and 5 mg/kg dosages, had not effects as significant as that observed in memantine treated rats by 5 ?g/rat administration into nucleus accumbens core. The results indicated that memantine administration into nucleus accumbens core dose-dependently could prevent stress responses.