Anxiolytic profiles of alprazolam and ethanol in the elevated plus-maze test and the early acquisition of shuttlebox avoidance.
Rats pretreated either with the anxiolytic triazolobenzodiazepine alprazolam (0.75 and 1.75 mg kg-1 i.p.) or ethanol (1, 2, 3 and 4 g kg-1 p.o.) were tested in both the elevated plus-maze and the early acquisition of shuttlebox avoidance. Both substances induced overall anxiolytic effects in the plus-maze, with the 0.75 mg kg-1 being the most effective alprazolam dose and 1-3 g kg-1 being the most effective ethanol doses. Both drugs were also anxiolytic in the shuttlebox, since 1.75 mg kg-1 alprazolam and 2-3 g kg-1 ethanol improved acquisition of the task. Correlational and factor analysis showed that behaviour in the open arms of the plus-maze and efficiency in shuttlebox avoidance acquisition are positively associated, thus providing further support to the contention that the early acquisition of shuttlebox avoidance is an animal model of anxiety.
Prunell
M
M
Laboratorio de Fisiología Animal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
Escorihuela
R M
RM
Fernández-Teruel
A
A
Núñez
J F
JF
Tobeña
A
A
D000525:Alprazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000431:Ethanol; D000525:Alprazolam