Zahra Saeni - Department of Physiology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
Masoumeh Asl-Rousta - Department of Physiology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
Mehdi Rahnema - Department of Physiology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran

Background and Aim : Social isolation (which is a type of stress) causes a variety of behavioral disorders such as anxious behavior. Grape (Vitis vinifera) seed oil (GSO) contains high amounts of phenolic compounds and has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of grape seed oil on anxious behavior in adult male rats exposed to chronic social isolation.Methods : 40 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (each group of 10 rats) consisting of Control, GSO, Isolation and Isolation-GSO. Animals in groups Isolation and Isolation-GSO were exposed to isolation stress for 60 days. GSO also was orally administrated to rats (4ml/kg) in groups GSO and Isolation-GSO, until the end of the period. Then we assessed anxious behavior on an elevated plus maze.Results : percentages of entries and time spent in open arm significantly decreased in the Isolation group compared with Control (p<0.05). GSO could significantly increase these parameters in isolated rats (p<0.05).Conclusion : we concluded that GSO has anxiolytic effect in social isolated rats.

Grape seed oil, Social isolation, Anxiety, Rat