Study Of Anxiolytic Of Drugs Using Mice/rat

Aim: To study the anxiolytic activity of diazepam in mice using elevated zero mazes.

Principle: The elevated zero maze test is a behavioural test of anxiety based on the naturalistic
the tendency of rodents to avoid open and elevated areas. It is similar to the more widely used elevated plus maze, except that the open and closed arms are arranged circularly, thus eliminating the centre area which removes ambiguity in the interpretation of time spent in the central square of the traditional design. The maze is an elevated, white or black, annual having an outer diameter of 45 cm and an inner diameter of 30 cm. The runway ring where the mouse can explore 6cm width, which is divided into 4 quadrants, 2 opposing “open” quadrants without walls and 2 opposing closed quadrants. The model is widely used for the elevation of anxiolytic agents belonging to a chemically different class of drugs.

Requirements:
Animal: Mice (20-25gm)
Drugs: Diazepam (dose 2 mg/kg. i.p)
Equipment: Zero mazes with the dimension

Procedure:

1. Weigh and number the animals . divide them into two groups each consisting of
   minimum 6 mice. One group is used as control and other drugs treatment.
2. Place the animal individually in the open arm facing towards the closed arm. Start the
   stop watch and note the following parameters for a period of six minutes.
   • Latency to enter the open arm
   • Average time each animals spends in the open arm
   • Total number of entries in the open arm
   • Stretching into open quadrants
3. Clean the maze thoroughly using tissue paper after each trail.
4. Inject diazepam to the test group. After 30 min place the animals individually as described.