title: Enhancement of CO2-induced anxiety in healthy volunteers with the serotonin antagonist metergoline.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mechanism of action of CO2-induced anxiety is unknown and has been little studied. The authors studied healthy volunteers for the possible influence of serotonin (5-HT) on CO2-induced anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy volunteers received two vital capacity inhalations each of 35% CO2 and of air, preceded once by placebo and once by the 5-HT antagonist metergoline in a double-blind, randomized crossover design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean National Institute of Mental Health self-rating anxiety subscale scores increased nonsignificantly after CO2 inhalation; this effect was significantly enhanced by the administration of metergoline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors hypothesize that 5-HT may inhibit CO2-induced anxiety, a function that is lessened by metergoline.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Soroka Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-sheba, Israel.
authors.forename: I Z
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Ben-Zion
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meiri
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benjamin
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D008711:Metergoline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010919:Placebos; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008711:Metergoline; D012701:Serotonin