[Anxiety-inducing and -inhibiting agents: differential effect of pentagastrins on the white rat behavior].

Parenteral administration of des-BOC-Pentagastrin induced the anxiety and fear manifestations, depressing also explorative behaviour in open field experiments in rats. Intranasal administration evoked similar effects, whereas pentagastrin reduced the anxiety level, increasing explorative behaviour. Pentagastrin and des-BOC-Pentagastrin displayed antagonism at the receptor level.