Pharmacological validation of a novel animal model of anticipatory anxiety in mice.
The current study investigates the action of anxiolytics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, antipyretics, muscle relaxants, antihypertensives and naloxone in a novel animal model of anxiety, based on the evidence that mice removed last from their cage develop hyperthermia (stress-induced hyperthermia, SIH) when compared to those removed first. Alprazolam (0.15-0.6 mg/kg), chlordiazepoxide (25 mg/kg), estazolam (1 mg/kg), phenobarbital (20 mg/kg), ethanol (2 and 4 g/kg), buspirone (5 and 10 mg/kg) and prazosin (1 and 2 mg/kg), as well as repeatedly administered diazepam (5 mg/kg), inhibited SIH. In contrast, tofisopam (12.5-200 mg/kg), desipramine (15 and 30 mg/kg), amitriptyline (10 mg/kg), fluoxetine (10 and 20 mg/kg), tranylcypromine (5 and 10 mg/kg), chlorpromazine (1 and 2 mg/kg), clozapine (2 and 4 mg/kg), pimozide (0.5 and 1 mg/kg), l-sulpiride (15 and 30 mg/kg), l-propranolol (5 and 10 mg/kg), acetyl salicylic acid (200 and 400 mg/kg), indomethacin (2.5 and 5 mg/kg), verapamil (2.5 and 5 mg/kg), captopril (25 and 50 mg/kg), dantrolene (10 and 20 mg/kg), mephenesin (300 and 600 mg/kg), d-amphetamine (1 and 4 mg/kg) and naloxone (2.5 and 15 mg/kg) were inactive, as were 10 mg/kg imipramine, amitriptyline and fluoxetine injected every day for 21 days. Reserpine at high doses (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) but not at a lower dose (0.62 mg/kg) prevented SIH, but in this case animals showed a behavioural syndrome which could have interfered with the occurrence of the hyperthermia.
Lecci
A
A
A. Menarini Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacological Research Department, Firenze, Italy.
Borsini
F
F
Volterra
G
G
Meli
A
A
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D009270:Naloxone