Pharmacological Investigation of Serial Anxiety Tests in the Mouse: A Pilot Study
A. M. Umarudeen *
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.
M. G. Magaji
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
O. S. Bello
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
C. Aminu
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
M. I. Abdullahi
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The use of test batteries has been suggested as a means to enhance throughput, to broaden the spectrum of anxiety parameters detectable and to minimise the numbers of experimental animals required in behavioural studies. This study was undertaken to determine the sensitivity of test batteries each of open field, zero mazes and staircase tests to anxiety behaviours in randomised mouse groups. Mice (n = 8) were exposed to these apparatuses serially in that order, thirty minutes following intraperitoneal administration of distilled water, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg diazepam. Each mouse was allowed to spend 5 minutes to freely explore each test apparatus. The results showed diazepam-treated mice exhibited significantly (p<0.05) reduced anxiety behaviours compared to the placebo group on most rodent anxiety parameters evaluated. The findings of this study suggest these behavioural test apparatuses, when used in serial combination, are sensitive and reliable to measure murine anxiety-related behaviours and the anxiolytic effects of standard/putative agents.
Keywords: Evaluation, open-field, elevated zero-maze, staircase, mice