In the model of anxiety L-838,417 was dissolved in a (2-Hydroxypropyl)-beta-cyclodextrin solution and administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) at a volume of 2 ml/kg to male and female adolescent and adult SD rats. Anxiolytic effect of L-838,417 was demonstrated at doses 1-4 mg/kg.

Electrophysiological experiments on were performed on Ltk- cells expressing human cDNA combinations a1b3g2s, a2b3g2s, a3b3g2s and a5b3g2s. Glass coverslips containing the cells in a monolayer culture were transferred to a chamber on the stage of an inverted microscope. Cells were perfused continuously with a solution containing (in mM): 124 NaCl, 2 KCl, 2 CaCl2, 1 MgCl2, 1.25 KH2PO4, 25 NaHCO3, and 11 d-glucose, pH 7.2, and observed with phase-contrast optics. Patch pipettes were pulled with an approximate tip diameter of 2 μm and a resistance of 4 MΩ with borosilicate glass and were filled with (in mM): 130 CsCl, 10 HEPES, 10 EGTA, and 3 Mg+-ATP, pH-adjusted to 7.3 with CsOH. Cells were patch-clamped in whole-cell mode with a List LM-EPC 7 patch-clamp amplifier. Drug solutions were applied by a double-barreled pipette assembly, which was controlled by a stepping motor attached to a Prior manipulator, enabling rapid equilibration around the cell. Increasing GABA concentrations were applied for 10 sec pulses with a 30 sec interval between applications.