ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Staircase test
;
Exploration
;
Locomotion
;
Anxiolytics
;
Sedation
;
Benzodiazepines
;
Therapeutic index
;
mice
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Eleven benzodiazepines were evaluated in the staircase test in mice. The behavioural parameters measured were the number of steps climbed and the number of rears during a 3-min test. Climbing and to a lesser extent rears were enhanced at low doses, whereas both parameters, particularly rearing, were reduced at higher doses. The differential effects of the drugs on the two parameters were used to determine indices of anxiolytic efficacy for each drug where increases in climbing were taken to indicate the onset of anxiolytic activity and decreases in rearing the onset of sedative activity. The compounds could be ranked according to these indices in a manner which appears to reflect their therapeutic profile in man.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00215488
