title: Effects of RO 60 0175, a 5-HT(2C) receptor agonist, in three animal models of anxiety.
abstract: There is some controversy as to whether 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists are anxiogenic or anxiolytic. The effects of the novel 5-HT(2C) receptor agonist, (S)-2-chloro-5-fluoro-indol-1-yl)-1-methyl ethylamine fumarate (RO 60 0175), in three models of anxiety were therefore tested. RO 60 0175 was found to induce hypolocomotion in rats at doses greater than 0.5 mg/kg s.c., an effect reversed by the selective 5-HT(2C) receptor antagonist, SB-242084. RO 60 0175 did not elicit anxiolytic-like responses in the social interaction test under high light unfamiliar conditions, but suppressed both time spent in social interaction and locomotion at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg s.c., suggesting a sedative response. In the Vogel conflict test, RO 60 0175 had no significant action on the number of shocks taken. In the Geller-Seifter test, RO 60 0175 (0.3 and 1 mg/kg s.c.) simultaneously reduced both unpunished and punished lever pressing, a profile consistent with sedation. Finally, RO 60 0175 was tested in a rat social interaction test under low light familiar conditions optimal for the detection of anxiogenic-like responses. At 1 and 3 mg/kg s.c., RO 60 0175 reduced both time spent in social interaction and concurrent locomotion, a profile more consistent with sedation than anxiogenesis. In conclusion, RO 60 0175 induced sedative-like responses via 5-HT(2C) receptor activation, but was neither anxiolytic, nor clearly anxiogenic at the doses tested.
authors.affiliation: Neurobehavioural Research, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, New frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kennett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lightowler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trail
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bromidge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D005021:Ethylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D005021:Ethylamines; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007211:Indoles; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C103848:Ro 60-0175; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists