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Behavioral models in mice. Implication of the alpha noradrenergic system
M Hascoët1, M Bourin, J Bradwejn
1Département de Pharmacologie et GIS Médicament, Faculté de Médecine, Nantes, France.
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Drug effects on mobility depend on the test used. Clonidine showed dual effects, acting as a sedative in one test but reducing immobility in others, highlighting test specificity in pharmacology.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The mechanism of action for noradrenergic drugs can vary depending on the behavioral assay employed.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate drug efficacy prediction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of different mobility tests on the observed effects of noradrenergic drugs.
- To characterize the distinct actions of clonidine and idazoxan in various behavioral paradigms.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of noradrenergic drugs, including clonidine (Alpha 2 agonist) and idazoxan, across different mobility tests.
- Comparison of drug effects in spontaneous activity tests versus immobility-based tests like the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST).
Main Results:
- Clonidine exhibited dose-dependent effects, causing sedation in spontaneous activity tests but anti-immobility effects in TST and FST.
- The tail suspension test revealed a dual action of clonidine, while idazoxan demonstrated an unexpected partial alpha 2 agonist effect.
- The forced swimming test was identified as more specific for predicting antidepressant activity compared to the tail suspension test.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral test selection significantly impacts the interpretation of noradrenergic drug mechanisms.
- Clonidine possesses a dual pharmacological profile, with its effects being test-dependent.
- Idazoxan's action as a partial alpha 2 agonist was unmasked by the tail suspension test.
- The forced swimming test offers greater specificity for assessing potential antidepressant properties than the tail suspension test.