Buspirone, a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic, increases locus coeruleus noradrenergic neuronal activity.
It has been hypothesized that treatments which increase locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic neuronal activity produce anxiety, whereas treatments which decrease LC neuronal activity are anxiety-reducing. Although the benzodiazepine anxiolytic diazepam decreases LC neuronal impulse flow and norepinephrine metabolism, the non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic buspirone does the opposite. These data suggest that a reduction in LC output is not a necessary prerequisite for anxiolytic activity.
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002065:Buspirone; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D003975:Diazepam; D002065:Buspirone; D009638:Norepinephrine