Diazepam and nicotine increase social interaction in gerbils: a test for anxiolytic action.
The effects of two drugs with anxiolytic actions, diazepam (0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg) and nicotine (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) were examined on the time spent in social interaction by pairs of male gerbils. In a test arena lit by high light, diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) increased social interaction, without changing locomotor activity. Diazepam (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) produced a dose-related increase in locomotor activity, which reached significance at the higher dose. Nicotine produced a dose-related increase in social interaction, which reached significance at 0.5 mg/kg, but was without effect on locomotor activity. The specific increases in social interaction observed with diazepam and nicotine are similar to those seen in the well-validated social interaction test of anxiety in rats and suggest that social interaction in gerbils may also be used to screen for anxiolytic action of novel compounds.
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Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, GKT School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, SE1 1UL, London, UK. sandra.file@kcl.ac.uk
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D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D009538:Nicotine; D003975:Diazepam