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

Abstract

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.

The discriminative stimulus produced by pentylenetetrazol: effects of systemic anxiolytics and anxiogenics, aggressive defeat and midazolam or muscimol infused into the amygdala

“…Thus, the effects of this drug in this model are not particularly suggestive of anxiolytic efficacy, certainly as far as acute administration is concerned. This may be a reflection of the particular model of anxiety that is employed here, since ritanserin has been reported to have anxiolytic effects in man as well as in some other experimental models of anxiety (Colpaert et al, 1985;Critchley and Handley, 1986;Meert & Colpaert, 1986) although the effect is not always consistent.…”

Comprehensive neurocognitive endophenotyping strategies for mouse models of genetic disorders

“…These protocols have been parameterized in rats to include tests of hyponeophagia in environments across differing levels of perceived insecurity (Bannerman et al , 2002, 2003), and adapted for mice (Deacon, 2011). Various shock probe burial tasks are also classic tests of this model as a test of a mouse's desire to approach the probe to bury it in bedding despite simultaneous fear of the shock (Meert and Colpaert, 1986). The probe burial task has fallen out of favor in recent years, appearing only sporadically in the literature (Chee and Menard, 2011; Saldivar-Gonzalez et al , 2003; Shah and Treit, 2003; Sikiric et al , 2001; Treit and Fundytus, 1988).…”

Quantitative autoradiographic distribution and pharmacological characterization of (3H)buspirone binding to sections from rat, bovine and marmoset brain

“…In many but not all experimental conflict designs, buspirone has been found to behave as an anxiolytic. The lack of anxiolytic activity in several accepted anxiety paradigms (e.g., operant conflict procedures, Goldberg et al, 1983; shock-probe conflict procedures, Meert and Colpaert, 1986; elevated plusmaze, Pellow and File, 1986) and complex effects on various neurotransmitter systems in brain has prevented conclusions concerning defined mechanisms of action of buspirone.…”