Research reportInvolvement of the serotonergic system in the anxiolytic-like effect of 2-phenylethynyl butyltellurium in mice

•PEBT treatment demonstrated an anxiolytic-like effect in different anxiety models.•PEBT reduced [3H] 5-HT uptake.•PEBT selectively inhibited MAO-A activity in cerebral cortex.

Anxiety is a serious disorder with symptoms manifested at the psychological, behavioral, and physiological levels, accompanied by alterations in the serotonergic system and monoaminergic signaling. In this study, the anxiolytic-like effect of 2-phenylethynyl butyltellurium (PEBT), in three well-consolidated anxiety mouse models (light-dark test, novelty suppressed-feeding, elevated plus-maze), was investigated. The involvement of the serotonergic system, synaptosomal [3H] serotonin (5-HT) uptake and monoamine oxidase (MAO A and B) activities on cerebral cortices of mice, was examined. Mice received PEBT (1 mg/kg, by intragastric route, i.g.) or canola oil (10 ml/kg, i.g.) 30 min before behavioral tests. The results showed that PEBT was effective in increasing the time spent by mice in the illuminated side on the light-dark box and in the open arms on the elevated plus-maze. PEBT decreased the latency to begin eating on the novelty suppressed-feeding test, indicating an anxiolytic-like effect of PEBT. Furthermore, PEBT reduced [3H] 5-HT uptake and selectively inhibited MAO-A activity in cerebral cortex, suggesting the involvement of the serotonergic system in the mechanism of action of this tellurium compound.