Changes in O2 consumption, CO2 production and locomotor activity were examined in rats exposed to (1) brief footshock, (2) an aversive conditioned stimulus (CS) predicting footshock, or (3) the anxiogenic drug FG-7142. Respiratory quotient (RQ = CO2 produced/O2 consumed) and energy expenditure [EE = O2 consumed (364 + 113RQ)] were derived to give an estimate of the energy substrate (fat, carbohydrate or protein) being utilised and total substrate oxidation respectively. In experiment 1, footshock (4 x 5 s 0.6 mA shocks over 2 min) produced an immediate increase in RQ, EE and activity. The RQ and EE effects were attenuated by the benzodiazepine midazolam (1 mg/kg). In experiment 2, an aversive CS, consisting of flashing light and buzzer that had 24 h earlier been repeatedly paired with foot-shock (20 x 5 s 0.6 mA shocks) caused a pronounced drop in RQ, an increase in EE and locomotor activity suppression. The effects of the aversive CS on RQ and EE were reversed by midazolam (1 mg/kg). In experiment 3, FG-7142 (10 mg/kg) produced a steep drop in RQ that persisted for at least 2 h and which was reversed by midazolam (1 mg/kg) and delayed by the benzodiazepine antagonist RO 15-1788 (10 mg/kg). FG-7142 also tended to inhibit EE and locomotor activity, but these effects did not reach statistical significance. Overall, these data show that stress causes profound alterations in RQ, EE and activity and that the pattern of change in these parameters differs with the nature of the stressor involved.