Anxiolytic-like action of beta-blockers: effects of stimulus salience

Eighteen rats were trained on a multiple schedule: lever pressing was rewarded on a Variable Interval (VI 20 s) in both components but, in addition, punished on a similar schedule in one. Shock intensity was individually adjusted to produce high or low degrees of response suppression during punishment periods in two different groups of animals. For some rats in each group, punishment periods were signalled by a flashing light; for others, by a steady light. d,l-Propranolol (2.5-7.5 mg/kg), l-propranolol (3.75, 7.5 mg/kg) and atenolol (20 mg/kg) released responding in animals in which suppression was low. These effects were restricted to the group for which the punishment signal was flashing light. The results are consistent with the view that activation of peripheral beta-adrenoceptors is involved in the suppression of responding by signals of punishment, but only in some conditions. Adding chlordiazepoxide (3.75 mg/kg) to d,l-propranolol (7.5 mg/kg) increased punished responding in the high-suppression group, but reduced it in the low-suppression group.