Favoured genetic background for testing anxiolytics in the fear-potentiated and light-enhanced startle paradigms in the rat

► Among four rat strains F344 showed the strongest fear-potentiated startle (FPS) reaction. ► Together with Wistar, F344 also showed the strongest light-enhanced startle (LES) reaction. ► Both FPS and LES in F344 rats are sensitive to anxiolytic actions of alprazolam. ► F344 rats are particularly suited for predictability assessment of novel axiolytics in FPS and LES.