Sex differences in open-field behavior in response to the β-carboline FG 7142 in rats

Sex differences in conflict behaviour and in plasma corticosterone levels

“…Sex differences in animal tests of anxiety have been reported as well (Johnston and File, 1991;Imhof et al, 1993;Meng and Drugan, 1993;Zimmerberg and Farley, 1993). However, in our study the observed sex differences in the test of punished drinking are even greater than those previously described (Johnston and File, 1991).…”

“…Beatty and Beatty (1970) have also shown that electrical resistance of female rats was significantly less than that of male rats, and that, for given shock levels, more pain related behaviour was elicited in females than males. Bearing in mind these reports, as well as the data showing that all anxiolytic tests do not show similar sex-related differences (Johnston and File, 1991;Imhof et al, 1993;Meng and Drugan, 1993;Zimmerberg and Farley, 1993), one might question whether the former attractive hypothesis can exist. Since most anxiolytic tests have been validated in male rats, it is not known whether different tests of anxiety measure the same variables in male and female rats (Johnston and File, 1991).…”

“…Sex differences in some animal tests of anxiety (Johnston and File, 1991;Imhof et al, 1993;Meng and Drugan, 1993;Zimmerberg and Farley, 1993), in baseline and stress induced plasma glucocorticoid levels (Kitay, 1961;Critchlow et al, 1963;Heinsbroek et al, 1991), and in stress induced cortisol levels in saliva (Kirschbaum et al, 1992), have been reported. The adrenocortical activity in rats appears to depend on the sex steroid levels.…”

Ethopharmacological analysis of the unstable elevated exposed plus maze, a novel model of extreme anxiety: predictive validity and sensitivity to anxiogenic agents

“…FG 7142 selectively increased escape with no locomotor decrements; in line with previous findings in unconditioned models of anxiety (e.g. File et al 1983;Meng and Drugan 1993;Russo et al 1993;Cruz et al 1994;Cole et al 1995). It is worth noting that whilst no controlled clinical trials have examined the effects of FG 7142 in humans, Dorow et al (1983) describe symptoms intuitively resembling those of a panic attack in two volunteers following oral FG 7142, such as "severe anxiety", "facial flushes, tremors, cold sweat and an inability to concentrate" and "an impending fear of death or annihilation".…”

“…FG 7142 administered peripherally in rats (Cruz et al 1994;Cole et al 1995) and mice (Rodgers et al 1995) and into the dorsal periaqueductal grey (dPAG) in rats (Russo et al 1993) has anxiogenic effects in the EPM. The compound reduces social interaction in rats and exploration of the holeboard in both rats (Meng and Drugan 1993) and mice (Takeda et al 1998). Adamec (1991Adamec ( , 1993 has also documented chronic increases in feline defensive behaviour towards rats following acute FG 7142.…”