Neuropharmacologic specificity of a simple animal model for the behavioral actions of benzodiazepines.

A simple model system for the behavioral actions of benzodiazepines is analyzed for its dose-response predictiveness, using several benzodiazepines, and for its pharmacological specificity, using other non-anxiolytic classes of psychoactive drugs. The model demonstrates an increase in mouse exploratory activity between a brighty-lit open field and a small, dark compartment by clonazepam, diazepam, flurazepam, chlordiazepoxide and meprobamate, but not by the peripheral benzodiazepine R05-4864, nor by clorgyline, butriptyline, or chlorpromazine.