Background: Pepper Spray could be utilized for personal defense against human and animals assailants. The symptoms would be exhibited immediately if this spray comes in contact with eyes, nose, throat and the lungs. No comprehensive information is available on the effect of the period of exposure to this spray on anxiety behavior this study was done to determine the effect of OS pepper spray on anxiety (fear) behavior in rats.
Materials and methods: Adult male Wistar rats, with a mean weight of 210±20 grams were divided into 4 experimental groups and a control group. 6 rats were placed within a chamber that had been sprayed with OS spray for 3 seconds.. The rats remained for 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds within the chamber, and were then returned to their cages. After 90 minutes, Plus-maze was used to measure animal anxiety levels.
Results: There was a significant difference in anxiety behavior between the experimental and control groups in addition a significant increase in anxiety was observed with increasing periods of exposure to the spray, (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Increasing OS exposure time would result in rising anxiety. 

Keywords: Pepper Spray, Anxiety, Plus- maze, Rat.

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