Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 80 (2), 111-118 (1999)


Effects of Psychoactive Drugs in the Vogel Conflict Test in Mice

Toyoshi Umezu

Environmental Health Science Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0053, Japan

Abstract: This study examined effects of various psychoactive drugs on the Vogel conflict test, where drinking behavior is punished by electric shocks, in ICR mice to clarify the pharmacological features of this method in mice. A benzodiazepine anxiolytic diazepam and a barbiturate pentobarbital produced significant anticonflict effects, which mean that these drugs increased the number of electric shocks mice received during 40-min test session. On the other hand, yohimbine (alpha2-receptor antagonist), caffeine (adenosine-receptor antagonist), scopolamine (muscarinic cholinergic antagonist), cyclazocine (sigma-receptor antagonist), cimetidine (H2-receptor antagonist), baclofen (GABAB-receptor agonist), MK-801 (NMDA-receptor antagonist), buspirone (5-HT1A-receptor agonist), chlorpromazine (dopamine-receptor antagonist) and haloperidol (dopamine-receptor and sigma-receptor antagonist) all did not produce anticonflict effects in this test using ICR mice. The results suggest that the Vogel conflict test is applicable to ICR mice and that this test in mice is appropriate as a screening method for drugs that have apparent anti-anxiety actions.


Keywords: Vogel conflict test (mouse), Psychoactive drug, Anxiety


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1999

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