Involvement of GABAergic system in the antidepressant-like effects of chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) in ovariectomized rats in the forced swim test: comparison with neurosteroids.

Rationale: The absence of ovarian hormones that is characteristic of natural and surgical postmenopause in women is frequently related to such disorders as depression and anxiety. Chronic treatment with the flavonoid chrysin was previously shown to exert antidepressant-like effects in rodents subjected to validate behavioral models. Chrysin has also been shown to have anxiolytic-like properties, but its antidepressant-like effects and mechanism of action in the absence of ovarian hormones remain unknown.