Mouse strains differ in their sensitivity to alprazolam effect in the staircase test

Weizman, Ronit; Paz, Lior; Backer, Maria M; Amiri, Zamir; Modai, Ilan; Pick, Chaim G.

doi:10.1016/s0006-8993(99)01664-9

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We observed that diazepam and phenobarbital increased only the step climbing behavior. The effect of diazepam was in agreement with previous studies in NMRI (outbred), Swiss, ICR (outbred), and BALB / c (inbred) strains of mice (23,30), but contrasted with several Fig. 3.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…studies showing that anxiolytic drugs decreased the number of rearing without any effect on climbing behavior in the staircase test (21 -25). This discrepancy may be due to the strain difference in their sensitivity to the benzodiazepine agonist in the staircase paradigm (23,31), although lower doses of drugs were used in some models (28, 32 -34). In this connection, previous studies showed that high doses of phenobarbital decreased rearing activity and caused a biphasic effect on climbing in the staircase test (21,22).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Anxiety-Like and Exploratory Behaviors of Isolation-Reared Mice in the Staircase Test

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The behavior of isolation-reared mice has not yet been studied in the staircase test. The present study examined the effects of anxiolytic or anxiogenic agents and isolation rearing on the behavior of ddY (outbred) strain mice in the staircase test. Diazepam and phenobarbital increased the number of steps climbed, but did not affect rearing behavior in group-reared mice. FG-7142, a benzodiazepine inverse agonist, significantly increased the number of rearing with no changes in the number of steps climbed in group-reared mice. Methamphetamine increased the number of steps climbed and decreased the number of rearing in group-reared mice. Although isolation-reared mice showed hyperactivity, there was no difference in locomotor activity for the test period of 3 min between isolation-and group-reared mice. Under these conditions, isolation rearing increased the numbers of steps climbed and rearing compared to group-reared controls. Microanalysis of locomotor patterns of group-reared mice in the staircase test showed that anxiolytic drugs increased the number of climbing to the top step of the staircase and methamphetamine increased the number of climbing to the first to third step. These results suggest that isolation rearing causes an anxiety-like state with increased exploratory behavior in mice.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety-Like and Exploratory Behaviors of Isolation-Reared Mice in the Staircase Test

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Staircase maze. The staircase maze test, which is also sensitive to anxiety-related drug treatments and behaviors, was performed as described previously (Simiand et al, 1984;Weizman et al, 1999). Briefly, mice were placed for 3 min in the staircase, a rectangular (45 ϫ 10 cm) maze that has six steps (10 ϫ 7.5 cm, 2.5 cm high).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Briefly, mice were placed for 3 min in the staircase, a rectangular (45 ϫ 10 cm) maze that has six steps (10 ϫ 7.5 cm, 2.5 cm high). We recorded rearing and step climbing (defined as four paws on the next step), because these behaviors have been shown to be decreased in mice showing anxious-like behavior (Simiand et al, 1984;Weizman et al, 1999).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered Anxiety-Related Responses in Mutant Mice Lacking the β4 Subunit of the Nicotinic Receptor

et al. 2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nicotine, acting at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), is the primary addictive component of tobacco. Smokers often report an anxiolytic effect of cigarettes. This relief of anxiety, attributed to nicotine, is an important contributor to relapse when smokers try to quit. Hence, the study of the anxiolytic effects of nicotine is important for understanding the mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction. Mammalian nAChRs are pentameric ion channels usually composed of alpha andbeta subunits. Taking advantage of beta4-homozygous-null mice (beta4-/-), we examined the role of the nAChR beta4 subunit in anxiety-related behaviors. The beta4-/- mice behaved as though they were less anxious than wild-type littermates on the elevated-plus and staircase mazes, tests that measure anxiety-related behaviors. To obtain an independent, physiological indication of the stress produced by several tests, we measured changes in heart rate using telemetry. Consistently with the behavioral phenotype, beta4-/- mice had a smaller heart rate increase in the elevated-plus maze than did wild-type littermates. In contrast, during social isolation, a separate test for anxiety,beta4-/- mice exhibited a greater increase in heart rate than did wild-type littermates. Finally, beta4-/- mice were indistinguishable from their wild-type littermates in the open field, the light/dark box, and the mirrored chamber. The overall results demonstrate that beta4-containing (beta4*) nAChRs influence behavioral responses during anxiety-related tests, and that this effect depends on the type of anxiety-provoking experience. Through their influence on anxiety-related behavior, beta4* nAChRs might influence both tobacco consumption and smoking relapse.

show abstract

“…Animals were moved to the testing room at least 1 h prior to testing. The test has been validated using different anxiolytics (Simiand et al, 1984;Pick et al, 1996;Weizman et al, 1999) and has been used to examine anxiety-related phenotypes in genetically modified animals (Cryan et al, 2003b;Salas et al, 2003). The number of steps climbed and the rearing behavior of the mice are recorded as measures of anxiety-related behavior.…”

Section: Staircase Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and Pharmacological Evidence of a Role for GABAB Receptors in the Modulation of Anxiety- and Antidepressant-Like Behavior

Mombereau

Kaupmann

Froestl

et al. 2004

Neuropsychopharmacol

306

181

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although there is much evidence for a role of the inhibitory neurotransmitter g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the pathophysiology of anxiety and depression, the role of GABA B receptors in behavioral processes related to these disorders has not yet been fully established. GABA B receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors, which act as functional heterodimers made up of GABA B(1) and GABA B(2) subunits. Using recently generated GABA B(1) À/À mice, which lack functional GABA B receptors, and pharmacological tools we assessed the role of GABA B receptors in anxiety-and antidepressant-related behaviors. In the light-dark box, GABA B(1) À/À mice were more anxious than their wild-type littermates (less time spent in the light; reduced number of transitions). GABA B(1) À/À mice were also more anxious in the staircase test. Conversely, acute and chronic treatment with GS39783, a novel GABA B receptor positive modulator, decreased anxiety in the light-dark box and elevated zero maze tests for anxiety. On the other hand, GABA B(1) À/À mice had decreased immobility (antidepressant-like behavior) in the forced swim test (FST). These behavioral effects are unrelated to alterations in locomotor activity. In confirmation of the genetic data, acute and chronic treatment with CGP56433A, a selective GABA B receptor antagonist, also decreased immobility in the FST, whereas GS39783 did not alter this behavior. Taken together, these data suggest that positive modulation of the GABA B receptor may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for the development of anxiolytics, whereas GABA B receptor antagonism may serve as a basis for the generation of novel antidepressants.

show abstract

Mouse strains differ in their sensitivity to alprazolam effect in the staircase test

Cited by 15 publications

References 24 publications

Anxiety-Like and Exploratory Behaviors of Isolation-Reared Mice in the Staircase Test

Anxiety-Like and Exploratory Behaviors of Isolation-Reared Mice in the Staircase Test

Altered Anxiety-Related Responses in Mutant Mice Lacking the β4 Subunit of the Nicotinic Receptor

Genetic and Pharmacological Evidence of a Role for GABAB Receptors in the Modulation of Anxiety- and Antidepressant-Like Behavior

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About