title: Profiles of the antipanic compounds, triazolobenzodiazepines and phenelzine, in two animal tests of anxiety.
abstract: Two animal tests of anxiety (the elevated plus-maze and the social interaction test) were used to investigate the effects of several antipanic agents. In the elevated plus-maze, the triazolobenzodiazepines adinazolam (2 and 5 mg/kg) and alprazolam (1 mg/kg), tested after 5 days of pretreatment, demonstrated significant anxiolytic effects, while phenelzine (9 mg/kg), after 21 days of pretreatment, demonstrated nonsignificant anxiolytic effects. In the social interaction test, the triazolobenzodiazepines generally did not produce an anxiolytic profile, and phenelzine even revealed significant anxiogenic activity. The antipanic agents therefore distinguish between the two tests of anxiety. The lack of a strong anxiolytic profile with these agents in both tests lends support to the distinction between generalized anxiety and panic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of London, U.K.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: File
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects*; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C035971:U 43465F; C039668:adinazolam; D010624:Phenelzine; D000525:Alprazolam