Lack of anxiety in an animal model of depression with cholinergic supersensitivity.
It has been suggested that anxiety and depression are correlated dimensions of behaviour. Consequently, this study investigated the behaviour of the Flinders Sensitive Line, an animal model of depression with cholinergic supersensitivity, in the elevated (+)-maze test of anxiety. The results indicate that anxiety responses (% open/total arm entries) do not differ between the Flinders Sensitive and Flinders Resistant (control) lines of rat (FSL vs. FRL, respectively). Treatment with 1.0 mg/kg of diazepam significantly increased % open/total scores to a similar degree in both lines, further suggesting that the lines do not differ in anxiety. It is concluded that the FSL rat is an animal model of depression without evidence for inherent alteration in anxiety-related behaviour.
Schiller
G D
GD
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide.
Daws
L C
LC
Overstreet
D H
DH
Orbach
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D003975:Diazepam