Is the isolated animal a possible model for phobia and anxiety?

Abstract

• 1.

  1. Isolated animals develop a complex symptopathology which can be characterized both behaviorally and neurochemically.

• 2.

  2. The main behavioral features include: compulsive aggression, impairment of learning, exploration and sexual behavior, while the main neurochemical features include a decrease of brain tryptophan content and of brain serotonin turnover and an increased brain dopamine turnover.

• 3.

  3. Isolated aggressive mice are differently sensitive than grouped animals and respond differently to several psychotropic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, betablockers and benzodiazepines.

• 4.

  4. The results obtained will be discussed in the frame of the possibility of utilizing these animals models to study drugs active on anxiety and phobia.