title: A review of 25 years of the social interaction test.
abstract: The social interaction test of anxiety was developed 25 years ago to provide an ethologically based test that was sensitive to both anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects. It is sensitive to a number of environmental and physiological factors that can affect anxiety. It has detected anxiogenic effects of peptides such as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and anxiolytic effects of neuropeptide Y and substance P receptor antagonists. It has successfully identified neuropharmacological sites of action of anxiogenic compounds and drug withdrawal. Effects of compounds acting on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) systems have been extensively investigated after both systemic administration and microinjection into specific brain regions. The use of this test has, thus, played a crucial role in unravelling the neural basis of anxiety. It is hoped that in the next 25 years, the test will play a crucial role in determining the genetic basis of anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, King's College London, Guy's Campus, UK.
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: File
authors.forename: Pallab
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004777:Environment; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents