TY - JOUR
T1 - Diazepam, but not buspirone, induces similar anxiolytic-like actions in lactating and ovariectomized Wistar rats
AU - Fernández-Guasti, A.
AU - Ferreira, A.
AU - Picazo, O.
N1 - Funding Information:
Mr. Facundo Moreno and Vı́ctor Flores are gratefully acknowledged for their technical assistance. Dr. Darlene Kamel is thanked for English checking. This work was partially supported by a grant from the “Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologı́a” (CONACyT). A visit from A.F. to México City was also supported by CONACyT.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Previous reports indicate that the behavioural effects (including anxiolytic-like actions, hypothermia, "serotonergic syndrome," maternal behaviour and aggression and reduction in ambulation) of the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), are completely blocked in lactating rats. The present study compares the behavioural effects of buspirone (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg) between ovariectomized and mid-lactating rats. The study was carried out on Wistar female rats under inverted light/dark cycle conditions, by using the burying behaviour paradigm, the elevated plus maze and a general activity test. In both ovariectomized and lactating rats, diazepam produced a dose-dependent reduction in burying behaviour and an increase in the time spent in open arms, responses interpreted as anxiolytic. Buspirone at all doses (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) produced clear motor impairments in lactating, but not in ovariectomized animals, indicating that the effects of this drug on the anxiety paradigms are unspecific. Diazepam, by contrast, at the highest dose (4.0 mg/kg) similarly inhibited ambulation in both conditions. In the elevated plus maze, control lactating subjects spent more time in the open arms compared with saline-treated ovariectomized subjects, suggesting an anxiolytic-like effect of lactation per se. The present results support the idea that some behavioural actions of drugs acting at the serotonergic system vary between ovariectomized and lactating rats.
AB - Previous reports indicate that the behavioural effects (including anxiolytic-like actions, hypothermia, "serotonergic syndrome," maternal behaviour and aggression and reduction in ambulation) of the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), are completely blocked in lactating rats. The present study compares the behavioural effects of buspirone (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg) between ovariectomized and mid-lactating rats. The study was carried out on Wistar female rats under inverted light/dark cycle conditions, by using the burying behaviour paradigm, the elevated plus maze and a general activity test. In both ovariectomized and lactating rats, diazepam produced a dose-dependent reduction in burying behaviour and an increase in the time spent in open arms, responses interpreted as anxiolytic. Buspirone at all doses (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) produced clear motor impairments in lactating, but not in ovariectomized animals, indicating that the effects of this drug on the anxiety paradigms are unspecific. Diazepam, by contrast, at the highest dose (4.0 mg/kg) similarly inhibited ambulation in both conditions. In the elevated plus maze, control lactating subjects spent more time in the open arms compared with saline-treated ovariectomized subjects, suggesting an anxiolytic-like effect of lactation per se. The present results support the idea that some behavioural actions of drugs acting at the serotonergic system vary between ovariectomized and lactating rats.
KW - Burying behaviour
KW - Buspirone
KW - Diazepam
KW - Elevated plus maze
KW - Lactating and ovariectomized rats
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034870305&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0091-3057(01)00586-X
DO - 10.1016/S0091-3057(01)00586-X
M3 - Artículo
SN - 0091-3057
VL - 70
SP - 85
EP - 93
JO - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
JF - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
IS - 1
ER -