Abstract
Effects of Midazolam on agonistc behaviour in male mice. In this study, we examined the effects of acute and chronic injections of midazolam (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/kg, ip) on the agonistic behaviour elicited by isolation in male mice. Additionally, we evaluated the possible development of tolerance to the effects of the drug after daily administration for 10 consecutive days. Half of the mice were housed and employed as experimental or control animals; the remainder were used as "standard" opponents and were temporally rendered anosmic by zinc sulphate. Individually housed mice were exposed to anosmic "standard opponents" in a neutral area 30 minutes after the drug administration. Midazolam significantly decreased the time spent in offensive behaviours (threat and attack) without a significant increase of immobility, suggesting that this compound exerts a selective antiaggressive action. Likewise, no tolerance to midazolam antiaggressive activity was observed after chronic administration.
