Tail-swing behavior: a novel animal model for anxiety.
The present study was designed to examine the effects of diazepam, nitrazepam, desipramine and haloperidol on tail-swing behavior in mice and to characterize the effects of diazepam. Mice were suspended with rubber bands tied around their upper bodies in order to force their heads upwards. The duration of tail-swing behavior was then measured. Diazepam (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) and nitrazepam (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) significantly depressed tail-swing behavior, while they did not affect ambulation or muscle tone. In contrast, desipramine (10-30 mg/kg) did not affect tail-swing behavior, but at doses of 17.5 and 30 mg/kg produced a marked reduction in ambulation. Haloperidol (0.15 mg/kg) significantly decreased both tail-swing behavior and ambulation. The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil (1 and 10 mg/kg), the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid N-methylamide (beta-CCM; 3 mg/kg) and the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (3 mg/kg) reversed the effects of diazepam (1 mg/kg) on tail-swing behavior, although administered alone they failed to influence such behavior. These results suggest that anxiety and/or fear are responsible for tail-swing behavior.
Ukai
M
M
Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan. ukai@ccmfs.meijo-u.ac.jp
Mitsunaga
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009567:Nitrazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D013623:Tail / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D009567:Nitrazepam; D006220:Haloperidol; D003975:Diazepam; D003891:Desipramine