Evidence that the increased anxiety detected in the elevated plus-maze during chlordiazepoxide withdrawal is not due to enhanced noradrenergic activity

H A Baldwin, P K Hitchcott, S E File

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Rats displayed a reduction in the percentage of time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus-maze 24-30 hours after withdrawal from chronic chlordiazepoxide treatment (10 mg/kg/day IP for 4 weeks). This indicated an anxiogenic response in this test. This anxiogenic response was not significantly reversed by DL-propranolol (5 and 10 mg/kg IP) or clonidine (0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg IP). These results provide no evidence to suggest that the anxiogenic effects of chlordiazepoxide withdrawal are mediated by an increase in noradrenergic activity. The possible involvement of multiple transmitter systems in benzodiazepine withdrawal symptomology is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)931-9333
Number of pages3
JournalPharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1989

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Anxiety/chemically induced
  • Chlordiazepoxide/adverse effects
  • Clonidine/pharmacology
  • Learning/drug effects
  • Male
  • Norepinephrine/metabolism
  • Propranolol/pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/metabolism

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