[The effect of calcium channel blockers on animal behavior in tests to study their anxiolytic activity]

The anxiolytic activity of calcium channel blockers (verapamil, nifedipine, cinnarizine, fendiline, and diltiazem) versus diazepam (relanium) was tested in experiments on male [correction of female] mice. Only verapamil (1 mg/kg) and nifedipine (5 mg/kg) were found to increase the number of transitions and reduced the animals' stay in the dark compartment. All the agents in the used doses failed to substantially affect the animals' behavior in the plus-maze. It is suggested that conditions for modelling pathological anxiety rather than natural states are required in the experiments where antianxiety properties are studied. The model of pathological anxiety states is possible in the examination of the action of agents on the effects of routine anxiogenic agents.