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Use of the Open Field Maze to Measure Locomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice
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Role of anxiety in subordinate male mice sexual behavior.

F R D'Amato1, F Pavone

  • 1Istituto di Psicobiologia e Psicofarmacologia del CNR, Roma, Italy.

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|September 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Anxiolytic treatment, specifically diazepam, improved sexual performance in subordinate male mice. This suggests subordinate males in sexual contexts are a valuable model for studying anxiolytic drugs.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Ethology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Male mice exhibit distinct social and sexual behaviors based on dominance hierarchy.
  • Subordinate males show impaired sexual performance when a dominant male is present.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if anxiolytic treatment can modify rank-related behavioral differences in male mice.
  • To assess the impact of diazepam on the sexual performance and social behaviors of subordinate male mice.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of diazepam (0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg) to subordinate male mice exposed to a female.
  • Observation and quantification of specific behaviors including proxemic behavior, anogenital sniffing, and social grooming.
  • Comparison of behavioral changes in subordinate mice with dominant and isolated male mice.

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Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Use of the Open Field Maze to Measure Locomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice
07:12

Use of the Open Field Maze to Measure Locomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice

Published on: February 6, 2015

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice
04:38

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice

Published on: March 5, 2020

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety
04:20

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety

Published on: November 11, 2022

Main Results:

  • Diazepam (0.25 mg/kg) significantly improved subordinate male mice's sexual performance, evidenced by increased proxemic behavior, anogenital sniffing, and social grooming.
  • A higher dose (0.5 mg/kg) only affected social grooming behavior.
  • Dominant and isolated male mice showed no significant changes in social behavior following pharmacological treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Anxiolytic treatment can ameliorate performance deficits in subordinate male mice within a sexual context.
  • Subordinate male mice represent a promising model for evaluating the efficacy of anxiolytic drugs.