Chlordiazepoxide and the drinking of water by rats: effects of shock and other suppressive measures

The effects of chlordiazepoxide (5 and 10 mg/kg) on fluid consumption in water deprived rats were assessed. Drinking was inhibited to approximately equal extents by a water preload, by d-amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg), by neophobia and by shock at mild (0.3 mA) or moderate (0.5 mA) intensities, the latter condition having an enhanced level of deprivation also. At both doses chlordiazepoxide significantly enhanced drinking in the neophobia, mild shock and, especially, the moderate shock condition but failed to increase drinking suppressed by preload or d-amphetamine. It is concluded that the increases in drinking suppressed by neophobia or shock which chlordiazepoxide induces may be due to anxiolytic actions of the drug or to enhanced palatability since they cannot be explained in terms of nonspecific enhancement of fluid consumption.