Behavioral effects of buspirone in a mouse model of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Behavioral effects of buspirone in a mouse model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behav Brain Res. 2019 Nov 22;:112380 Authors: Malikowska-Racia N, Popik P, Sałat K Abstract Buspirone presents a unique profile of action, which involves activation of 5-HT1A receptors and complex effects on D2-like dopaminergic receptors. This medication is studied in terms of potential clinical repositioning to conditions that are associated with dopaminergic dysfunctions including schizophrenia and substance use disorder. Buspirone antagonizes D3 and D4 receptors, however, depending on the dose it differentially interacts with D2 receptors. Previously, we reported that some of D2/D3 dopaminergic agonists attenuate PTSD-like behavioral symptoms in mice. Here we investigated whether buspirone could also affect PTSD-like symptoms. We used the single prolonged stress (mSPS) protocol to induce PTSD-like behavior in adult male CD-1 mice. Buspirone (0.5, 2, or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected for 15 consecutive days. The subjects were repeatedly examined in a variety of behavioral tests measuring conditioned freezing response, antidepressant-like effects, anxiety, and ultrasonic vocal response to the restraint stress. Mouse SPS resulted in prolonged immobility in the forced swim test and freezing in the fear-conditioning test, and produced symptoms of anxiety. Buspirone dose-dependently decreased the exaggerated freezing response in mice, but only at the ...
Source: Behavioural Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research