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Convulsant versus typical barbiturates: effects on conflict behavior in the rat
R L Commissaris1, R J Vasas, T C McCloskey
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & AHP, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Convulsant barbiturates like CHEB differ from typical ones in their effects on anxiety behaviors. CHEB, unlike typical barbiturates, depressed punished and background responding in rats, showing no anti-anxiety or antagonist properties.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Typical barbiturates exhibit anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, sedative-hypnotic, and anti-anxiety effects.
- A distinct class of barbiturates are pro-convulsant, with their effects on anxiety behaviors unexamined.
- The Conditioned Suppression of Drinking (CSD) paradigm serves as an animal model for studying anxiety and anti-anxiety agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of a convulsant barbiturate, CHEB, with typical barbiturates on anxiety-related behaviors.
- To investigate whether CHEB possesses any antagonist properties against typical barbiturates.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained in the CSD paradigm, where drinking was suppressed by a tone preceding electric shock.
- Typical barbiturates (pentobarbital, secobarbital, phenobarbital) and varying doses of CHEB were administered.
- Effects on punished responding (drinking during tone) and background responding (drinking without tone) were measured.
Main Results:
- Typical barbiturates increased the number of shocks received without decreasing water intake, consistent with anti-anxiety effects.
- Sub-convulsant doses of CHEB dose-dependently decreased both punished and background responding.
- Pre-treatment with CHEB did not alter the anti-conflict effects of pentobarbital.
Conclusions:
- Convulsant barbiturates (CHEB) and typical barbiturates exert markedly different effects on conflict behavior in rats.
- CHEB does not appear to possess barbiturate antagonist qualities.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying the behavioral effects of convulsant barbiturates.