title: Buspirone, a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic, increases locus coeruleus noradrenergic neuronal activity.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D003975:Diazepam; D002065:Buspirone; D009638:Norepinephrine