Evaluation of Anxiety and Locomotor Behaviour in High Salt-Fed Mice Treated with L-Arginine and Losartan

Salt consumption above dietary guidelines is detrimental to health, it causes impaired cognitive, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative functions. This study aimed at evaluating anxiety and locomotor behaviour in high salt-fed mice treated with L-arginine and losartan. Forty (40) mice weighing between 27-37g were categorized into four (4) parts of ten (10) members. Group I (Control) was served ordinary mice chow and water, group II was given 8% sodium chloride in chow and 1% NaCl in drinkable water (High Salt Diet), group III was given same diet as group II in addition to L-arginine on the 43rd day, group IV was given same as group II in addition to Losartan on the 43rd day. L-arginine and losartan administration lasted for 14 days. The total duration for drug administration and feeding lasted for one month and three weeks. Light-Dark Transition Box (LDTB) and Elevated+ Maze (EPM) were used to assess anxiety and locomotor behaviour. The results showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease in line crossing, transition frequency, and light box duration, with a corresponding significant (p<0.001) increase in stretch attend posture, grooming frequency duration, close arm entry, dark box duration frequency in the high salt fed group compared with the control. Both L-arginine and Losartan significantly (p<0.001) reversed these changes towards normal. Thus, a high salt diet is implicated in increased anxiety, whereas L-arginine, a nitric oxide precursor, and losartan, an ACE blocker reduced anxiety which in turn improves locomotor behaviour in the mice.