EFFECTS OF BUSPIRONE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOLONEY SARCOMA VIRUS-INDUCED TUMORS IN STRESSED MICE

The effects of buspirone (1 mg/kg i.p.) on the development of autochth onous tumours induced by the Moloney sarcoma virus (MSV) were studied in BALB/c female mice subjected to a chronic auditory stressor. The st ress schedule was found to induce an inhibitory response on tumour gro wth and incidence when administered before the tumour was inoculated w ith MSV. On the contrary both growth and incidence were increased in m ice exposed to the stressor after the tumour was inoculated, together with a delay in the regression of the tumours. Treatment with buspiron e was found partially to reverse the adverse effects of post-inoculati on stress on tumour growth, but it did not affect the inhibitory respo nse to the pre-inoculation administration of stress.