Anxiolytic Activity of SC-48274 Compared with Those of Buspirone and Diazepam in Experimental Anxiety Models

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The present study was performed to assess the anxiolytic activity of the novel anxiolytic SC-48274 in comparison with those of buspirone and diazepam. Drugs were administered p.o. The experimental anxiety models included gastric lesions of mice induced by socio-psychological stress in the communication box (CB) and the passive avoidance paradigm in rats. In the CB experiments, non-foot-shocked mice (responder) exposed to the emotional responses of foot-shocked mice (sender), 3 hr per day for 3 days, developed gastric lesions. Single treatments of diazepam (1, 2, 5 mg/kg) and SC-48274 (25, 50 mg/kg) prevented gastric lesion formation, but buspirone at 2.5-10 mg/kg did not. A 3-day treatment with SC-48274 at doses over 5 mg/kg prevented gastric lesions; and a 3-day treatment with buspirone at 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg prevented the lesions with a U-shaped dose-response. Diazepam also prevented gastric lesion formation at the doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg. In the passive avoidance response study, rats which had a single acquisition trial for 2 days were used. The step-down latency for rats to enter from the illuminated compartment to the dark one was recorded. Single treatments of SC-48274 (25 mg/kg), diazepam (5, 10 mg/kg) or buspirone (25 mg/kg) shortened the delayed latency. These results suggest that SC-48274 has anxiolytic activity of the same potency as buspirone and repeated-dose administration is needed to induce anxiolytic activity.