THE ANXIOLYTIC EFFECTS OF FLESINOXAN, A 5-HT1A RECEPTOR AGONIST, ARE NOT RELATED TO ITS NEUROENDOCRINE EFFECTS

The effects of flesinoxan, a selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist, were s tudied under basal non-stress conditions and in the shock-probe buryin g paradigm. Flesinoxan (1 and 3 mg/kg s.c.) significantly reduced bury ing and freezing behaviour, indicating clear anxiolytic properties. Un der non-stress conditions, injection of 3 mg/kg flesinoxan significant ly enhanced plasma corticosterone and glucose levels, whereas prolacti n secretion was significantly enhanced after both 1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg flesinoxan. Flesinoxan (1 and 3 mg/kg) did not suppress shock-probe st ress-induced rises in plasma corticosterone and glucose levels. The en hanced plasma prolactin levels induced by flesinoxan were not further affected by shock-probe exposure. Our data show that the anxiolytic ef fects of flesinoxan in the shock-probe burying paradigm are not relate d to increases in plasma corticosterone and glucose levels.