title: Effect of diazepam and A beta-carboline on open-field and T-maze behaviors in 2-day-old chicks.
abstract: The effects of diazepam and the beta-carboline FG 7142 in chicks were examined on several behavioral measures in open-field and T-maze tasks. In the open field, only the higher doses of diazepam affected behavior, suggesting a sedative-like effect, while FG 7142 influenced behavior as would a fear-inducing manipulation. After a low dose of either drug was injected, testing in a T-maze showed that diazepam improved and FG 7142 impaired the escape performance from the isolation chamber, without affecting the time spent in the T-corridor. In three groups of chicks selected on the basis of their first escape performance, only lower performance chicks were affected by an anxiolytic dose of diazepam. T-maze results suggest that: (a) T-maze is more sensitive than open-field test to behavior changes induced by anxiolytic doses of diazepam; (b) isolation chamber behavior could be an index of general emotionality in young chicks; (c) diazepam and FG 7142 do not modify the social motivation to escape the maze; (d) higher performance chicks present an escape behavior of a less anxious type than lower performance chicks. The results suggest that the GABAergic system is involved in the behavioral expression of fear and anxiety in young chicks.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Martijena
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D002243:Carbolines; C035874:FG 7142; D003975:Diazepam