Discriminative stimulus properties of CL218872 and chlordiazepoxide in the rat

Rats were trained to discriminate either CL218872 (5 mg/kg PO) or chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg PO) from vehicle in a 2-lever discrimination task on an FR20 schedule. The discriminative cues produced by these two drugs generalised to a range of benzodiazepine receptor agonists and partial agonists. Nitrazepam, diazepam, RU32698 and RU32514 were less potent in substituting for the CL218872 cue than the chloridiazepoxide cue. Zopiclone, RU31719 and RU43028 substituted for both cues with similar potency, whilst zolpidem and CL218872 were clearly more potent in substituting for the CL218872 cue. Chlordiazepoxide substituted only partially for the CL218872 cue, even at doses which decreased the rate of responding. CGS9896 substituted partially for both cues, but was less effective with the CL218872 cue. RU39419 substituted for the chlordiazepoxide cue, but antagonised the CL218872 cue. CGS8216 and FG7142 antagonised both cues. The contributions of benzodiazepine receptor subtypes or partial agonism to the generation of the CL218872 cue is discussed.