Thigmotaxis as a test for anxiolytic activity in rats

Treit, Dallas; Fundytus, Marian E.

doi:10.1016/0091-3057(88)90413-3

Cited by 576 publications

(350 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…This suggests that cocaine-induced increases in center-zone activity (Carey et al, 2005a, ) might represent a false positive for an anxiolytic effect in the open-field test. Although drugs can alter general locomotor activity and center-zone activity independently (Treit and Fundytus, 1988), in the present study there was a higher correlation between distance traveled and center-zone entries with cocaine than with heroin, suggesting that cocaine-induced increases in center-zone entries in THC-naive rats might have resulted from a general increase in locomotor activity. If so, THC exposure may have prevented cocaine from increasing center-zone entries because it enhanced cocaine's anxiogenic effects.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 75%

Previous Exposure to THC Alters the Reinforcing Efficacy and Anxiety-Related Effects of Cocaine in Rats

Panlilio

Solinas

Matthews

et al. 2006

Neuropsychopharmacol

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The hypothesis that prior cannabis exposure increases the likelihood of becoming addicted to other drugs can be evaluated by giving rats a history of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure, then allowing them to self-administer other drugs. In Experiment 1, THC preexposure did not alter the acquisition of cocaine self-administration or the amount of cocaine taken under a fixed-ratio 1 (FR1) schedule, with one response required for each injection. Under a progressive-ratio schedule, with the response requirement increasing exponentially with each injection, cocaine-seeking was significantly reduced in THC-exposed rats, suggesting that the regimen of THC exposure used in the present study caused cocaine to be devalued as a reinforcer. In contrast, in an earlier study that used the same regimen, a history of THC exposure did not alter the value of heroin as a reinforcer under the progressive-ratio schedule, but it increased heroin self-administration under the FR1 schedule. Experiment 2 examined how this regimen of THC pre-exposure alters the locomotor effects of cocaine and heroin. THC pre-exposure produced cross-tolerance to the motor-depressant effects of heroin; this may explain the shortened post-injection pauses exhibited by THC-exposed rats under FR1 heroin self-administration. When given cocaine, THCexposed rats exhibited normal increases in locomotion, but they avoided the center of the open field, suggesting that this THC preexposure regimen enhances the anxiogenic effects of cocaine. This enhanced anxiogenic effectFwhich was verified in Experiment 3 using another model of anxiety, the light-dark testFmay explain the reduced reinforcing value of cocaine observed in THC-exposed rats in Experiment 1.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 75%

Previous Exposure to THC Alters the Reinforcing Efficacy and Anxiety-Related Effects of Cocaine in Rats

Panlilio

Solinas

Matthews

et al. 2006

Neuropsychopharmacol

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“…The increased activity of KO mice can also be due to strong emotional responses. For instance, exposure to a novel environment can lead to increased anxiety and thigmotaxis (Treit and Fundytus, 1988). Benzodiazepines suppress the anxiety-like response.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novelty Seeking and Stereotypic Activation of Behavior in Mice with Disruption of the Dat1 Gene

Pogorelov

Rodriguiz

Insco

et al. 2005

Neuropsychopharmacol

137

116

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Disruption of the dopamine (DA) transporter (Dat1) gene in mice leads to a 50% reduction or complete elimination of Dat1 expression in striatum of respective heterozygous (HZ) and knockout (KO) mice. Compared to wild-type (WT) controls, extracellular DA is increased approximately two-and five-fold in the mutants. Although open field (OF) activity is similar for WT and HZ animals, it is enhanced for KO mice. The purpose of the present investigations was to study spontaneously emitted behaviors and to determine the behavioral and neurochemical mechanisms that may contribute to the hyperactivity of KO animals. Heterozygotes are less anxious than other genotypes and they engage in novelty-seeking behaviors that include increased time spent in the center of the OF, enhanced investigation of objects, and augmented free exploration of a novel environment. By comparison, KO mice display neophobia when initially exposed to novel conditions. Over time the anxiety-like response habituates and behaviors become activated and stereotyped; these responses are unrelated to exploration or novelty seeking. No alterations in extracellular DA levels or tissue contents from several brain regions are detected at the time of stereotypic activation of KO mice. By contrast, this behavior is accompanied by changes in serotonin metabolism in basal ganglia. This feature may contribute to the behavioral inflexibility of KO mice in different experimental contexts. Collectively, these findings suggest that disruption of the Dat1 gene in mice leads to two different phenotypes; one related to anxiety-reducing and novelty seeking, while the other has some homology to disorders with a stereotypical-perseverative spectrum.

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“…Rodents tend to display a natural preference for the perimeters (thigmotaxis) of an environment and avoidance of open areas. In the open field paradigm, avoidance of central areas is used as an indicator of anxiety and is sensitive to anxiolytic drugs (Treit and Fundytus 1988). In an effort to reduce the effect of a novel environment on locomotor activity, animals used in the present experiments were repeatedly exposed to the test chamber.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

α1-Adrenergic receptors mediate the locomotor response to systemic administration of (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in rats

Selken

Nichols

2007

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

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The recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) increases locomotor activity when administered to rats. Although the published pharmacology of MDMA has focused almost exclusively on the roles of serotonin and dopamine, in vitro studies indicate that MDMA induces serotonin and norepinephrine release with equal potency. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that blockade of α 1 -adrenoceptors with systemic or local administration of the antagonist prazosin would attenuate the locomotor response to systemic administration of (±)-MDMA. Pretreatment with systemic prazosin (0.5 mg/kg) or microinjections into either the prefrontal cortex or ventral tegmental area completely blocked the locomotor stimulant effects of 5 mg/kg (±)-MDMA, assessed using a computerized Behavioral Pattern Monitor. Prazosin was more potent in blocking the locomotor stimulant effects of (±)-MDMA than a 2 mg/kg dose of (+)-amphetamine that produced a similar locomotor activity increase. These results indicate that activation of α 1 -adrenoceptors in both the prefrontal cortex and ventral tegmental areas modulate the locomotor response to MDMA.

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Thigmotaxis as a test for anxiolytic activity in rats

Cited by 576 publications

References 8 publications

Previous Exposure to THC Alters the Reinforcing Efficacy and Anxiety-Related Effects of Cocaine in Rats

Previous Exposure to THC Alters the Reinforcing Efficacy and Anxiety-Related Effects of Cocaine in Rats

Novelty Seeking and Stereotypic Activation of Behavior in Mice with Disruption of the Dat1 Gene

α1-Adrenergic receptors mediate the locomotor response to systemic administration of (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in rats

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