Anxiety-like behavior in elevated plus-maze tests in repeatedly cold-stressed mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Anxiety disorders are a significant public health concern.
• Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of anxiety is crucial for developing effective treatments.
• Specific stress paradigms are needed to model anxiety for research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between specific alternation of rhythm in temperature (SART) stress and anxiety-like behavior in mice.
• To evaluate the efficacy of various anxiolytic drugs in mitigating SART stress-induced behavioral changes.

Main Methods:

• Mice were subjected to SART stress (repeated cold stress) and other stress conditions (cold and restraint stress).
• Behavioral responses were assessed using the elevated plus-maze test.
• The effects of anxiolytics (diazepam, alprazolam, buspirone) and other agents (flumazenil, WAY-100635) were evaluated.

Main Results:

• SART stress significantly reduced time spent in open arms of the elevated plus-maze, indicating anxiety.
• Other stress types did not induce similar behavioral changes.
• Anxiolytics diazepam, alprazolam, and a single dose of buspirone reversed SART stress-induced anxiety.
• Flumazenil and chronic buspirone did not affect anxiety, and WAY-100635 antagonized buspirone's effects.

Conclusions:

• SART stress is a valid model for inducing anxiety-like behavior in rodents.
• Benzodiazepine and serotonin receptors are implicated in SART stress-induced anxiety.
• SART-stressed mice provide a valuable tool for studying the neuropharmacology of anxiety.