Systemic EMD 68843 injections reduce anxiety in the shock-probe, but not the plus-maze test.
Selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) reuptake inhibitors and 5-HT(1A) receptor agonists are believed to reduce anxiety. In the present study we examined the effects of injections of 5-(4-[4-(5-cyano-3-indolyl)-butyl]-1-piperazinyl)-benzofuran-2-carboxamide hydrochloride salt (EMD 68843), a 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist and selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, in two animal models of anxiety, plus-maze and shock-probe. Rats received intraperitoneal injections of vehicle, diazepam (2.5 mg/kg), or EMD 68843 (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg) 1 h prior to testing. Diazepam at the single dose tested and EMD 68843 dose-dependently (significantly at 20 and 40 mg/kg) reduced burying in shock-probe. However, only diazepam significantly increased open arm exploration in the plus-maze. Therefore, EMD 68843 has task specific anxiolytic properties.
Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9. dtreit@ualberta.ca
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D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D010879:Piperazines; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069503:Vilazodone Hydrochloride
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D003975:Diazepam; D007211:Indoles; D010879:Piperazines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069503:Vilazodone Hydrochloride