Buspirone, a 5-HT1A agonist attenuates anger, aggression and suicidal tendencies in rats.

Abstract The purpose of the work was to evaluate the effect of buspirone (BUS) on social isolation induced anger, aggression and suicidal tendencies in rats. The male Wistar rats were randomized in 6 groups (n = 6) and caged individually for 14 days to elicit anger and aggression. They were then divided into the following groups vehicle control (no isolation), Stress control (SC), fluoxetine (Flx; 30 mg/kg, p.o), BUS (10 mg/kg, p.o), BUS (20 mg/kg, p.o), BUS (40 mg/kg, p.o). All treatments were administered from day 14 through day 28. On the last day of treatment, assessment of anger, aggression and suicide-related traits were performed. Serum cortisol, blood pressure were measured and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the rat's brain and of BDNF expression were performed. SC group showed significant increase in anger (wheel rolling activity), aggression (increased number of attack bites, wrestling, chasing behavior), irritability score, learned helplessness (number of attempts of escape success and failure, escape latency), increased level of serum cortisol as compared to normal confirming induction of anger, aggression and suicidal ideation. BUS significantly reduced all behavioral traits associated with anger, aggression and suicidal ideation, reduced cortisol levels and significantly increased BDNF compared to stress control. Blood pressure increased substantially in stress control was significantly reduced by BUS, but not by Flx. Neuroimaging studies in stress control brains showed a reduction in amygdala size compared to normal, while animals under BUS treatment mitigated this reduction. Buspirone has been found to be effective in preventing anger, aggression and suicidal tendencies.