The effect of serotonin depletion and intra-hippocampal midazolam on rat behavior in the Vogel conflict test.
The effect of intra-hippocampal (dentate gyrus) microinjections of the benzodiazepine, midazolam (10 micrograms per site, bilaterally), was examined in the Vogel conflict test in serotonin depleted rats (pretreated with p-chlorophenylalanine). p-Chlorophenylalanine and midazolam, when given separately, significantly disinhibited rat conflict behavior. Midazolam retained its anticonflict potency in the p-chlorophenylalanine pretreated animals. These and other data indicate: (i) the specific involvement of limbic serotonin in emotional control, (ii) a dissociation of the effects of serotonin depletion and intra-hippocampal benzodiazepine on conflict behavior, and (iii) the important role of the hippocampus in processing emotional input.
Plaznik
A
A
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of the Nervous System, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland.
Jessa
M
M
Bidzinski
A
A
Nazar
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D012701:Serotonin; D010134:Fenclonine; D008874:Midazolam