A. Ferreira et al., Inhibitory effect of buspirone and diazepam, but not of 8-OH-DPAT, on maternal behavior and aggression, PHARM BIO B, 66(2), 2000, pp. 389-396
The action of diazepam (0.0; 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg) and the serotonergic compo
unds buspirone (0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg) and 8-OH-DPAT (0.0, 0.1, and 1.0 m
g/kg) on maternal behavior and aggression were studied. An activity test wa
s made after these treatments to control for unspecific actions due to moto
r impairment. Diazepam and buspirone dose-dependently inhibited the express
ion of maternal aggression and the active components of maternal behavior s
uch as retrieving and nest building. 8-OH-DPAT did not affect these behavio
rs. 8-OH-DPAT (1.0 mg/kg) provoked the serotonergic syndrome and hypothermi
a; however, ovariectomized animals showed more signs of the syndrome and a
decrease in body temperature after 8-OH-DPAT than lactating rats. Buspirone
, but not the other anxiolytics, reduced motor activity. The role of drugs
acting at the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and GABA-benzodiazepine systems i
n the control of maternal behavior and aggression is discussed. (C) 2000 El
sevier Science Inc.