Anxiety – Stress-Induced Hyperthermia
Body temperature and emotional state are closely related in humans, and stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) in rodents has predictive validity for certain anxiolytic drugs. This test allows to assess the effect of anxiolytics on stress-induced hyperthermia and simultaneously measure the intrinsic effects of these drugs on core body temperature. Stress-induced hyperthermia can be performed in both mice and rats.
The effects of chlordiazepoxide (CDP) on SIH in 129SVEV and C57BL/6J mice (top) and in Sprague Dawley rats (bottom). Pretreatment with CDP decreases SIH in 129SVEV mice and in Sprague Dawley rats. C57BL/6J mice are not sensitive to the effects of benzodiazepines in this test (top).
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In Sprague Dawley rats, pretreatment with diazepam (0.5–5 mg/kg; i.p) decreases SIH responses.
Pretreatment with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonists buspirone (15 mg/kg; i.p) or 8-OH-DPAT (2 mg/kg; i.p) decreases SIH responses in 129SVEV mice. This decrease in SIH can be reversed with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (2 mg/kg; i.p.). WAY100635 alone has no effect on SIH.
