title: New animal models of anxiety.
abstract: In an attempt to develop new animal models of anxiety with face and predictive validity for the spectrum of human anxiety disorders, two new animal paradigms have been described, stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) in mice and ultrasonic pup vocalizations (UV) in rats. In SIH mice develop enhanced body temperature in anticipation of an aversive event. This SIH can be antagonized by benzodiazepines, alcohol and 5-HT1A receptor agonists, but not by specific 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. When rat pups are separated from their mother and littermates they produce ultrasonic sounds, indicative of a separation distress. Benzodiazepines, 5-HT1A receptor agonists and SSRIs decrease this calling, whereas 5-HT3 receptor antagonists have no effect. Antidepressants in general do not decrease pup calling because in contrast to the SSRIs, noradrenergic uptake blockers enhance calling. These two animal models of anxiety can be added to the range of anxiety models and will be of help in predicting new putative anxiolytic drugs.
authors.affiliation: CNS-Research, Solvay Duphar b.v., Weesp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molewijk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Oorschot
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Poel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zethof
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Heyden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents