Abstract |
Antidepressant drugs are effective in anxiety states, including panic disorder. Both clinical and animal studies indicate that l- sulpiride, at low, non- neuroleptic doses, has antidepressant activity. The present study examined the effect of an antidepressant dose of l- sulpiride (4 mg/kg per day SC), compared with a well-established antidepressant drug ( fluoxetine, 3 mg/kg per day SC), in a rat model of anticipatory anxiety/panic behavior: conditioned fear stress-induced freezing behavior. Long-term (26 days) administration of l- sulpiride almost completely abolished freezing, a similar effect being produced by fluoxetine (freezing duration, in seconds: controls, 148.1 +/- 29.6; l- sulpiride, 27.5 +/- 8.3; fluoxetine, 72.0 +/- 15.2). The same doses of l- sulpiride (4 mg/kg SC) and fluoxetine (3 mg/kg SC) had no effect when administered for shorter periods (1, 5, or 12 days). No effect was produced by the long-term (26 days) administration of a neuroleptic dose of l- sulpiride (20 mg/kg per day SC). These results demonstrate that long-term administration of low, non- neuroleptic doses of l- sulpiride, is highly effective in an animal model of anticipatory anxiety/panic behavior.
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Authors | E Cavazzuti, A Bertolini, A V Vergoni, R Arletti, R Poggioli, A Forgione, A Benelli |
Journal | Psychopharmacology
(Psychopharmacology (Berl))
Vol. 143
Issue 1
Pg. 20-3
(Mar 1999)
ISSN: 0033-3158 [Print] Germany |
PMID | 10227075
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Anti-Anxiety Agents
- Dopamine Antagonists
- Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
- Fluoxetine
- Sulpiride
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Topics |
- Animals
- Anti-Anxiety Agents
(pharmacology)
- Conditioning, Psychological
(drug effects)
- Dopamine Antagonists
(pharmacology)
- Emotions
(drug effects)
- Fear
(drug effects)
- Fluoxetine
(pharmacology)
- Male
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
(pharmacology)
- Stress, Psychological
(psychology)
- Sulpiride
(pharmacology)
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