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Balance control and posture in anxious mice improved by SSRI treatment
P Venault1, D Rudrauf, E M Lepicard
1CNRS UMR7593 Vulnérabilité, Adaptation et Psychopathologie, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, 91, bd de l'Hôpital 75013 Paris, France.
Neuroreport
|September 25, 2001
Summary
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine and paroxetine can improve balance impairments associated with anxiety in mice. These findings suggest SSRIs may treat anxiety-induced balance issues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Anxiety can cause balance impairments and postural changes.
- A novel rotating beam task was developed to assess these deficits in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of chronic administration of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetine and paroxetine, on anxiety-related balance impairments in mice.
- To assess if SSRIs can mitigate anxiety-induced postural changes.
Main Methods:
- A dynamic postural stabilization task on a rotating beam was used in BALB/cByJ mice.
- Mice were administered fluoxetine and paroxetine chronically.
- Behavioral measures included imbalance frequency, trunk elevation, and tail angle.
Main Results:
- Both fluoxetine and paroxetine demonstrated diazepam-like effects.
- SSRIs significantly reduced the number of imbalances in anxious mice.
- Chronic SSRI treatment led to increased trunk elevation and tail angle, indicating improved postural control.
Conclusions:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) show potential in treating anxiety-related balance impairments.
- These findings suggest a novel therapeutic application for SSRIs in managing anxiety-induced postural instability.
