The Effects of Subchronic Digoxin Treatment on Anxiety in the Plus Maze Test

Abstract

In this study, the effects of digoxin on anxiety were investigated by using elevated plus maze test. Subchronic digoxin treatment for 6 days (1 and 2.5 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased the time spent in the open arms (p<0.05). Diazepam, an anxiolytic drug. significantly increased the time spent in the open arms compared with control groups. Diazepam antagonised the effects of digoxin on time spent in the open arms. The number of entires into closed arms was not affected by any of the drugs. These results suggest that subchronic digoxin treatment has shown anxiogenic activity in the elevated plus maze test.