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Profile of action of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, ondansetron and WAY 100289, in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety of mice

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Abstract

The effects of ondansetron (0.001–0.1 mg/kg) and the novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, WAY 100289 (0.01–10.0 mg/kg), on anxiety were examined in male mice using an ethological version of the elevated plus-maze paradigm. This procedure involves scoring specific aspects of defensive behaviour in addition to the more usual spatiotemporal measures. Results show that, at the doses tested, neither compound produced a behavioural profile consistent with anxiety reduction. Indeed, the lowest dose of ondansetron (0.001 mg/kg) produced some behavioural trends more typically associated with mild anxiety enhancement. Data are discussed in relation to the enigmatic effects of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in animal models of anxiety. It is suggested that the large within- and between-test variability observed with these compounds may indicate an action on mechanisms other than anxiety.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ethopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Leeds, LS2 9TJ, Leeds, UK

    R. J. Rodgers, J. C. Cole & J. M. Tredwell

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  1. R. J. Rodgers
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  2. J. C. Cole
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  3. J. M. Tredwell
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Rodgers, R.J., Cole, J.C. & Tredwell, J.M. Profile of action of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, ondansetron and WAY 100289, in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety of mice. Psychopharmacology 117, 306–312 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02246105

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02246105

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