Modification of the anxiolytic effects of 5-HT1A agonists by shock intensity.

Contradictory evidence exists concerning the anxiolytic effects of 5-HT1A agonists in the conflict test. In the present work, a modification of the Vogel conflict model was used to assess different doses of diazepam (0.1-5.6 mg/kg), ipsapirone (1.0-17.8 mg/kg), buspirone (1.7-17.8 mg/kg), and indorenate (0.56-17.8 mg/kg) in rats receiving two different electric shock intensities (0.16 and 0.32 mA). The results show that the three 5-HT1A agonists had a smaller anticonflict effect than diazepam. The anticonflict effect with each compound was of a greater magnitude at 0.16 mA intensity than at 0.32 mA. This study shows that, using different electric shock intensities, compounds produce a differential effect: the anticonflict effects were more pronounced with the lower electric shock intensity than with the higher intensity. The present results suggest that the use of different shock intensities can play distinct roles over the drug's effect in the conflict test.