Tail-swing behavior: A novel animal model for anxiety

The present study, was designed to examine the effects of diazepam, nitrazepam, desipramine and haloperidol on tail-swing behavior at mice and to characterize the effects of diazepam. Mice were suspended with rubber bands tied around their upper bodies at order to force their heads upwards. The duration of tail-swing behavior was then measured. Diazepam (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) and nitrazepam (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) significantly, depressed tail-swing behavior; while they did not affect ambulation or muscle lone. In contrast, desipramine (10-30 mg/kg) did not affect tail-swing behavior but at doses of 17.5 and 30 mg/kg produced a marked reduction in ambulation. Haloperidol (0.15 mg/kg) significantly decreased both tail-swing behavior and ambulation. The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil (1 and 10 mg/kg), the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid N-methylamide (beta-CCM: 3 mg/kg) and the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (3 mg/kg) reversed the effects of diazepam (1 mg/kg) oil tail-swing behavior; although administered alone they failed to influence such behavior These results suggest that anxiety and/or fear are responsible for tail-swing behavior (C) 2003 Prous Science. All rights reserved.