Modeling panic attacks

The isomorphism of dorsal periaqueductal gray-evoked defensive behaviors and panic attacks was appraised in the present study. Thresholds of electrically induced immobility, trotting, galloping, jumping, exophthalmus, micturition and defecation were recorded before and after acute injections of anxi...

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Published in:Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2001-12, Vol.25 (7-8), p.647-659
Main Authors: SCHENBERG, Luiz Carlos, BITTENCOURT, Athelson Stefanon, MURARI SUDRE, Eliana Cristina, CESAR VARGAS, Leila
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use
Behavior, Animal - drug effects
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - physiopathology
Disease Models, Animal
Panic Disorder - drug therapy
Panic Disorder - physiopathology
Panic Disorder - psychology
Rats
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Summary:The isomorphism of dorsal periaqueductal gray-evoked defensive behaviors and panic attacks was appraised in the present study. Thresholds of electrically induced immobility, trotting, galloping, jumping, exophthalmus, micturition and defecation were recorded before and after acute injections of anxiolytic, anxiogenic and antidepressant drugs. Antidepressant effects were further assessed 24h after injections of 7-14- and 21-day treatments. Chronic administration of clomipramine (CLM, 5-10mg/kg) a clinically effective antipanic drug increased the thresholds of immobility (24%), trotting (138%) galloping (75%), jumping (45%) and micturition (85%). The 21-day treatment with fluoxetine (FLX, 1mg/kg) virtually abolished galloping without changing the remaining responses. Galloping thresholds were also increased by 5mg/kg acute injections of CLM (19%) and FLX (25%). In contrast, chronically administered maprotiline (10mg/kg), a noradrenaline (NE) selective reuptake inhibitor, selectively increased the thresholds of immobility (118%). Diazepam (1.8mg/kg) and midazolam (MDZ, 2.5mg/kg) failed in attenuating the somatic defensive responses. Yet, the sedative dose of MDZ (5mg/kg) attenuated immobility. The panicogenic drug, pentylenetetrazole (50mg/kg), markedly decreased the thresholds of galloping (-51%) and micturition (-66%). These results suggest that whereas immobility is a NE-mediated attentional response, galloping is the panic-like behavior best candidate.
ISSN:0149-7634
1873-7528
DOI:10.1016/S0149-7634(01)00060-4