An analysis of drug effects in mice exposed to a simple novel environment

Marriott, A. S.; Smith, E. F.

doi:10.1007/bf00402534

Cited by 40 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This finding is consistent with the previously-reported low-dose activating effects of benzodiazepines (e.g. Marriott and Smith 1972;Simon and Soubrie 1979;Moser 1989). As more detailed analysis of the data failed to reveal any evidence of a significant reduction in anxiety with diazepam, it would appear that the stimulant and anxiolytic effects of this compound are unrelated.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of diazepam on behavioural and antinociceptive responses to the elevated plus-maze in male mice depend upon treatment regimen and prior maze experience

1992

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Recent studies have shown that brief exposure to an elevated plus-maze (EPM) produces non-opioid antinociception in male mice. The present experiments were designed to assess the effects of diazepam on this phenomenon. When acutely administered, low doses (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) of diazepam failed to produce an anxiolytic profile and exerted rather inconsistent effects on EPM-induced elevations in tail-flick latencies. In EPM-experienced mice, chronic treatment with higher doses of diazepam (2-4 mg/kg, 8 days) produced a weak anxiolytic action and inhibited the early phase of EPM antinociception only. However, in EPM-naive mice, 8-day diazepam pretreatment exerted a marked anxiolytic effect and completely eliminated the antinociceptive response to the maze. Together, these data support the view that anxiety is a key factor in certain forms of adaptive pain inhibition and suggest a possible mediational role for benzodiazepine receptors. Our findings also show that prior exposure to the EPM, rather than chronic handling/injection, greatly reduces the anti-anxiety effect of diazepam. Furthermore, since re-exposure to the maze, per se, decreased time spent on the open arms and central platform, a shift in behavioural baseline ("retest anxiogenesis") may have contributed to the weak behavioural effects of diazepam in test-experienced animals. Importantly, as chronic treatment with diazepam did not influence this anxiogenic-like retest profile, our data suggest that a single prior experience of the EPM may radically alter the nature of the anxiety reaction provoked by this test.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of diazepam on behavioural and antinociceptive responses to the elevated plus-maze in male mice depend upon treatment regimen and prior maze experience

1992

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“…These findings are in direct contrast to the lack of effects reported following acute treatment with anti-depressants (Poschel 1971;Marriott and Smith 1972;Kilts et al 198I;Bodnoff et al 1988). However, the results are not unexpected based upon the literature suggesting a role for norepinephrine (Charney and Redmond 1983), serotonin (Iversen 1984) and dopamine (Lavielle et al 1978) in anxiety.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 83%

A comparison of the effects of diazepam versus several typical and atypical anti-depressant drugs in an animal model of anxiety

et al. 1989

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We examined the anxiolytic effects of a variety of anti-depressant drugs, administered either acutely or chronically, in an animal model of anxiety involving novelty-suppressed feeding in food-deprived rats. Following a single injection of desipramine (10 mg/kg) amitriptyline (10 mg/kg), mianserin (10 mg/kg), fluoxetine (10 mg/kg), buspirone (4 mg/kg), gepirone (4 mg/kg) or nomifensine (10 mg/kg), there was no decrease in the latency to begin eating in the novel environment such as occurred with diazepam (2 mg/kg). In fact, an increased latency was observed for desipramine, amitriptyline, fluoxetine, and nomifensine. In contrast, chronic (21 days) treatment with each of the above-mentioned drugs, except nomifensine, significantly reduced the latency to begin eating relative to vehicle controls. These findings suggest that a variety of tricyclic and novel anti-depressant drugs acquire anxiolytic properties following chronic administration.

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“…Of these compounds, only atropine, cyproheptadine, and propranolol had two or more successive doses at which responding exceeded the saline control level. Effects reminiscent of an anxiolytic action have been reported for these three compounds (Graeff and Schoenfeld 1970;Marriott and Smith 1972;Stein et al 1973). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The shock probe conflict procedure. A new assay responsive to benzodiazepines, barbiturates and related compounds

Meert

Colpaert

1986

Psychopharmacology

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Rats that are placed in a novel environment containing a probe will explore the environment and the probe. Exploration of the probe is reduced when the probe is electrified. We here report that chlordiazepoxide blocks this inhibition, and have determined some of the pharmacological features of this new experimental procedure. The procedure appears to be sensitive to the effects of several benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and related compounds. Limited activity was observed with most 5-HT antagonists, ritanserin, an anticholinergic, a beta-adrenergic blocker and a neuroleptic. Of the antidepressants, only imipramine had some limited activity. Inactive compounds in this procedure include benzodiazepine antagonists, buspirone, convulsants, opiates, an opiate antagonist, stimulants, a putative DA agonist and antagonist, histamine antagonists, a cholinomimetic, anticholinergics, a NE antagonist, alpha 2 agonists, an alpha 2 antagonist, MAO inhibitors, 5-HTP and LSD.

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An analysis of drug effects in mice exposed to a simple novel environment

Cited by 40 publications

References 6 publications

Effects of diazepam on behavioural and antinociceptive responses to the elevated plus-maze in male mice depend upon treatment regimen and prior maze experience

Effects of diazepam on behavioural and antinociceptive responses to the elevated plus-maze in male mice depend upon treatment regimen and prior maze experience

A comparison of the effects of diazepam versus several typical and atypical anti-depressant drugs in an animal model of anxiety

The shock probe conflict procedure. A new assay responsive to benzodiazepines, barbiturates and related compounds

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