Antianxiety profile of ondansetron, a selective 5-HT3 antagonist, in a novel animal model.
The profile of action of ondansetron was assessed in a novel animal model of anxiety. The mirrored chamber is a nonpunishing quantitative model of anxiety which measures approach-conflict behavior. Ondansetron in all the doses tested (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg i.p.) showed significant anxiolytic action as compared to naive mice, but it was less potent as compared to a well-known anxiolytic, diazepam (1 mg/kg). These results suggest that ondansetron has anxiolytic efficacy in nonconflict paradigms of anxiety, a response not mediated by the conventional neurotransmitter receptors. GABA-benzodiazepine as flumazenil (4 mg/kg), a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, failed to reverse the behavioral parameters evoked by ondansetron.
Roychoudhury
M
M
Pharmacology Division, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
Kulkarni
S K
SK
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D018757:GABA Modulators; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D005442:Flumazenil; D017294:Ondansetron; D003975:Diazepam