Differential effects of benzodiazepines and amphetamine on exploratory behaviour in weanling rats: an animal model...

An animal behaviour model is described in which the exploratory activity of weanling rats in an area inaccessible to the mother rat is measured by ultra sound. The model distinguishes between benzodiazepines and amphetamine or desipramine when the drugs are given acutely to the weanlings. Flurazepam, nitrazepam, oxazepam and chlordiazepoxide produced a dose-dependent increase in exploratory behaviour and a reduction of activity at higher doses. Chronic administration of chlordiazepoxide in the diet of the maternal rat also produced an increased exploratory activity in the weanlings. Diazepam and oxazepam were without effect at the doses used. It is proposed that this model has value in assessing anxiolytic activity in acutely or chronically administered benzodiazepines.