title: Anxiolytic actions of the substance P (NK1) receptor antagonist L-760735 and the 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT in the social interaction test in gerbils.
abstract: The gerbil social interaction test has previously detected anxiolytic effects of nicotine and diazepam. In the present study, the high affinity substance P (NK(1)) receptor antagonist L-760735 (3 mg/kg) significantly increased the time spent in social interaction, whereas its low affinity analogue L-781773 (3 mg/kg) was without effect. Diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) and the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.003 and 0.01 mg/kg) also increased social interaction, whereas an acute dose of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) decreased the time spent in social interaction. Diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) significantly increased locomotor activity, but this effect was independent of the increase in social interaction. The other drugs tested were without effect on locomotor activity. The present findings suggest that the gerbil social interaction may well provide a useful assay for detecting both anxiolytic and anxiogenic compounds, and suggests that the high affinity NK(1) receptor antagonist L-760735 may prove to be useful as an anxiolytic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, King's College London, SE1 1UL, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheeta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Rupniak
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: File
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; C114226:L 760735; D009025:Morpholines; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin