OVF mice do not differ from wild-type mice in anxiety-like behavior as measured by the light-dark test.276 However, when withdrawn from chronic alcohol consumption, wild-type mice show increased anxiety-like behavior, while OVF mice do not. NR2B is hyperphosphorylated in OVF mice, and treatment with the NR2B antagonist ifendopril in alcohol-withdrawn OVF mice increases anxiety-like behavior to levels observed in alcohol-withdrawn wild-type mice. In contrast ifendopril only slightly decreases anxiety-like behavior in alcohol-withdrawn wild-type mice. This suggests that increased phosphorylation of NR2B in OVF mice prevents increases in anxiety-like behavior induced by alcohol withdrawal.
