Anxiolytic-like action of DuP753, a non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist

The potential of DuP753, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, to inhibit the suppressed behaviour of mice in a light/dark aversion test was investigated. The aversive response to the light compartment of the apparatus was reduced (increase in latency to move from the light to the dark compartment and decreases in rears, line crossings and percentage of time spent in the dark compartment) following treatment with DuP753 (0.1-1000 micrograms kg-1 p.o., 45 min before the test). These results further implicate the modulation of mental function by angiotensin II.