A comparison of the effects of diazepam versus several typical and atypical anti-depressant drugs in an animal model of anxiety.
We examined the anxiolytic effects of a variety of anti-depressant drugs, administered either acutely or chronically, in an animal model of anxiety involving novelty-suppressed feeding in food-deprived rats. Following a single injection of desipramine (10 mg/kg) amitriptyline (10 mg/kg), mianserin (10 mg/kg), fluoxetine (10 mg/kg), buspirone (4 mg/kg), gepirone (4 mg/kg) or nomifensine (10 mg/kg), there was no decrease in the latency to begin eating in the novel environment such as occurred with diazepam (2 mg/kg). In fact, an increased latency was observed for desipramine, amitriptyline, fluoxetine, and nomifensine. In contrast, chronic (21 days) treatment with each of the above-mentioned drugs, except nomifensine, significantly reduced the latency to begin eating relative to vehicle controls. These findings suggest that a variety of tricyclic and novel anti-depressant drugs acquire anxiolytic properties following chronic administration.
Bodnoff
S R
SR
Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Suranyi-Cadotte
B
B
Quirion
R
R
Meaney
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003975:Diazepam