Cited by 101Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorMemory and Neural MechanismsStress Responses and Cortisol

Light-enhanced startle: further pharmacological and behavioral characterization

Walker, David L., Davis, Michael·2002·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Rationale Previous findings indicate that the acoustic startle response is elevated when rats are tested in bright light. The phenomenon is disrupted by the 5HT1A partial agonist and the D2 receptor antagonist buspirone, a compound that also blocks the effect on startle of conditioned fear, and it was suggested that light-enhanced startle reflects an anxious state produced by bright light. It was also suggested that pre-test handling may be necessary for light-enhanced startle. To characterize this phenomenon further, we evaluate here the sensitivity of light-enhanced startle to the anxiolytic compound chlordiazepoxide, to the noradrenergic beta-receptor antagonist propranolol, and to pre-test handling. Methods Startle was measured for 20 min in the dark (phase I), followed 5 min later by a second test (phase II) either in the dark or the light. Immediately prior to testing, rats received IP injections of chlordiazepoxide (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg; experiment 1), propranolol (10 or 20 mg/kg; experiment 2) or saline. Using the minimally effective doses from the light-enhanced startle experiments, conditioned fear to a shock-paired cue was also evaluated. In a third experiment, rats were (a) removed from the test cages and briefly handled between phases I and II, (b) were not handled during this interval, or (c) were tested without the interposed delay. Results Propranolol (10 and 20 mg/kg) and chlordiazepoxide (10 mg/kg) disrupted light-enhanced startle at doses comparable to those…

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Crossref · 10.1007/s002130100913

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  • Light-enhanced startle is reduced selectively by both benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics.

    “Light-enhanced startle was reduced selectively by both benzodiazepine (ie, chlordiazepoxide) and non-benzodiazepine (ie, flesinoxan, buspirone, and propranolol) anxiolytics (de Jongh et al, 2002; Walker and Davis, 1997a, 2002a).”
  • Chlordiazepoxide reduced light-enhanced startle at a dose that has little effect on startle amplitude in the dark phase.

    “chlordiazepoxide reduced light-enhanced startle at a dose that has little effect on startle amplitude in the dark phase (Walker and Davis, 2002a)”

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Authors
Walker, D. L., & Davis, M.
Affiliations
Emory University (US)
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2001-10-17
Volume
159
Issue
3
Pages
304-310
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2060737262
Cited by
101
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH59906, MH-57250, R01MH057250, P50MH052384, R01MH059906, P50MH058922, MH58922, MH 47840, MH-52384)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
acoustic startle response, anxiety, chlordiazepoxide, propranolol, anxiolytics, fear-potentiated startle, fear conditioning, rats
MeSH terms
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists, Animals, Anxiety, Behavior, Animal, Chlordiazepoxide, Darkness, Handling, Psychological, Lighting, Male, Propranolol, Reflex, Startle, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats

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