THE NOOTROPIC DRUGS PIRACETAM AND OXIRACETAM DO NOT REDUCE ANXIETY IN MICE DURING ELEVATED-X-MAZE TESTING

The behavioral effects of two nootropic drugs, piracetam and oxiracetam, were investigated on measures of anxiety in an elevated-x-maze test in mice. In this test, the acute effects of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg intraperitoneal (IP) piracetam and 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg IP oxiracetam were compared with those of an established reference drug, lorazepam (0.025, 0.050, and 0.10 mg/kg IP). The putative anxiolytic effects of +/- propranotol, a beta-blocker with 5HT1A and 5HT1B antagonistic properties, were also evaluated. Results showed that both piracetam and oxiracetam had no significant effect on the percentage of entries made onto the open arms or the percentage of time spent in the open arms or the total arm entries. A pronounced anxiolytic effect was evident after treatment with 0. 050 and 0. 10 mg/kg IP lorazepam or 5 and 10 mg/kg IP +/- propranolol. In conclusion, our data show that two nootropic drugs, piracetam and oxiracetam, acutely administered in mice, are devoid of anxiolytic properties in the elevated-x-maze test of anxiety.