Modification of the anxiolytic effects of 5-HT1A agonists by shock intensity

Role of 5‐HT1A Receptors in Acquisition, Consolidation and Retrieval of Learning

“…In addition, the silent 5-HTIA receptor antagonist WAY 100,635 blocks the nonspecific effects produced by I-OH-DPAT in the delayed matching to position learning task (37,50,107). Hence, it is reasonable to conclude that pre-or post-learning administration of I-OH-DPAT enhances learning regardless of feeding, and once learning is consolidated the stimulation of ~-H T I A receptors does not alter it (50,75,76,94).-The latter conclusion is consistent with the evidence that the anxiolytic effects of ~-H T I A receptor agonists may become weaker or even absent in well-trained animals (20,74,116) as a result of learning factors (47,48). p-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) treatment does not alter the impairment induced by 5-HTIA agonists in the passive avoidance task (2,45,72).…”

Anxiolytic-like actions of buspirone in a runway model of intravenous cocaine self-administration

“…It would seem that a larger dose is required to shift the behavioral anxiogenic response of cocaine-treated animals. In other studies, buspirone appears to be less effective and/or less consistent than more traditional anxiolytic compounds in behavioral test paradigms employing shock-induced conflict/anxiety (e.g., Benvenga and Leander, 1996;Martin et al, 1993;Meneses and Hong, 1993;Sanger, 1990;Witkin and Perez, 1989). The results are more promising when other tests are employed.…”

“…In the current study, we investigated whether a similar result would be observed in animals pretreated with the 5-HT 1A partial agonist, buspirone (Newman-Tancredi et al, 1998;Pecknold, 1994). Buspirone has been widely and successfully used for the treatment of a variety of anxiety-related states in human patients (e.g., Bond et al, 2003;Fulton and Brogden, 1997;Goa and Ward, 1986), however its effects in animal studies, particularly those employing shock-induced conflict/ anxiety, have been less effective and/or less consistent compared to more traditional anxiolytic compounds (e.g., Benvenga and Leander, 1996;Martin et al, 1993;Meneses and Hong, 1993;Sanger, 1990;Witkin and Perez, 1989). Since cocaine has potent inhibitory actions at the serotonin transporter (Filip et al, 2005;Koe, 1976;Ritz et al, 1990), and there is a growing literature implicating the 5-HT cells of the dorsal raphé in the modulation of anxiety-related states (e.g., Abrams et al, 2004;Chaouloff, 2000;Sena et al, 2003), it was of interest to assess whether buspirone pretreatment would alleviate the approach-avoidance conflict of animals running an alley for daily infusions of IV cocaine.…”