Pharmacological Alterations of Anxious Behaviour in Mice Depending on Both Strain and the Behavioural Situation

Abstract

A previous study comparing non-emotive mice from the strain C57BL/6/ByJ with ABP/Le mice showed ABP/Le to be more anxious in an open-field situation. In the present study, several compounds affecting anxiety were assayed on ABP/Le and C57BL/6/ByJ mice using three behavioural models of anxiety: the elevated plus-maze, the light-dark discrimination test and the free exploratory paradigm. The compounds used were the full benzodiazepine receptor agonist, chlordiazepoxide, and the antagonist, flumazenil, the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline, the full 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT, and the mixed 5-HT1A/5-HT1B agonist, RU 24969. Results showed the effect of the compounds to be dependent on both the strain and the behavioural task. Several compounds found to be anxiolytic in ABP/Le mice had an anxiogenic effect on C57BL/6/ByJ mice. More behavioural changes were observed for ABP/Le in the elevated plus-maze, but the clearest findings for C57BL/6/ByJ mice were observed in the light-dark discrimination apparatus. These data demonstrate that anxious behaviour is a complex phenomenon which cannot be described by a single behavioural task nor by the action of a single compound.

Obsessive–compulsive-like behaviors in house mice are attenuated by a probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG)

“…This time frame was chosen based upon the work of others (Clement et al, 2009), as well as preliminary pilot work. Behavioral testing began 60 min after RU 24969 injection.…”

What Can We Learn about Autism from Studying Fragile X Syndrome?

“…Another example is to measure the effect of anxiolytic drugs on both social and anxiety-related behaviors [138]. Nevertheless, ASD behaviors and anxiety are complex phenomena that cannot be described by a single behavioral task or by the action of a single pharmacological compound [139,140]. In spite of all these difficulties, animal behavioral studies emphasize that genetic background is a critical factor [109,117], supporting the notion of an interaction between FMR1 and‘modifier’ background genes in the pathogenesis of ASD in FXS.…”

Differential behavioral outcomes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy) in anxiety-like responses in mice

“…Thus, increments in number of entries or in the time spent by rodents in the plus-maze open arms commonly indicate the presence of decreased levels of anxiety (20,21). Anxiogenic drugs are reported to increase the time spent in the peripheral zone of the open field, decreasing, at the same time, the permanence of the animal in the central zones (22,23). Conversely, anxiolytic drugs have been shown to reduce exploration of the peripheral open-field zones (24).…”