Evidence for differential effects of 8-OH-DPAT on male and female rats in the Anxiety/Defense Test Battery |
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Authors: | D. Caroline Blanchard Jon K. Shepherd R. J. Rodgers Robert J. Blanchard |
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Affiliation: | (1) Bekesy Laboratory of Neurobiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1993 East-West Road, 96822 Honolulu, HI, USA;(2) Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1993 East-West Road, 96822 Honolulu, HI, USA;(3) Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, 1993 East-West Road, 96822 Honolulu, HI, USA;(4) Department of Psychology, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, UK |
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Abstract: | The Proxemics/Activity test and the Eat/Drink test, two components of the Anxiety/Defense Test Battery, were developed to measure defensive reactions to situations associated with a natural predator (cat). In the present studies the behavioral effects of 8-OH-DPAT treatment (0.01–1.0 mg/kg, SC) were entirely consistent with anxiety/fear reduction. These effects included an increase in time spent near the cat compartment, and a complimentary decrease in time spent farthest from this compartment, together with an increase in transits and locomote behavior. 8-OH-DPAT (1.0 mg/kg) also increased eat frequencies and durations (highly preferred food) both during and following cat presentation, without influencing drinking. This finding is discussed with reference to previous findings with 8-OH-DPAT in studies assessing both food intake and anxiolysis. Interestingly, 8-OH-DPAT was more potent in a majority of its effects in female subjects, a finding consistent with recent neurochemical data. These findings provide important behavioral evidence for a sexual differentiation in 5-HT function, and support the case for greater emphasis on female subjects in animal models of anxiety.Supported by NIH MH42803 and RCMI Grants RR03061 and RR01825 |
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Keywords: | 8-OH-DPAT Serotonin 5-HT1A Anxiety Defense Fear Risk assessment Animal model Sex differences Grooming |
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