5-HT1A receptors of the lateral septum regulate inhibitory avoidance but not escape behavior in rats.

Serotonin in the lateral septum (LS) has been implicated in the modulation of defensive behaviors and in anxiety. However, it is currently unknown whether changes in 5-HT mechanisms in this brain area may selectively affect defensive responses associated with specific subtypes of anxiety disorders recognized in clinical settings. To address this question, we evaluated the effect of the intra-LS injection of the 5-HT(1A/7) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.

Effects of chronic treatment with a water-alcohol extract from Erythrina mulungu on anxiety-related responses in rats.

We investigated the effects of chronic oral treatment with a water-alcohol extract from the inflorescence of Erythrina mulungu (Leguminosae-Papilionaceae) (EM, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg) in rats submitted to different anxiety models: the elevated T-maze (ETM, for inhibitory avoidance and escape measurements), the light/dark transition, and the cat odor test. These models were selected for their capacity to elicit specific subtypes of anxiety disorders as recognized in clinical practice. Treatment with EM impaired inhibitory avoidance latencies in a way similar to the reference drug, diazepam (DZP).