title: Effect of naloxone on the behaviour of rats exposed to a novel environment.
abstract: It has recently been suggested that endogenous opiates may play a general role in stress responding. To test this hypothesis, naloxone hydrochloride (0.5-4.0 mg/kg SC) was administered to rats exposed to an open field situation. Naloxone treatment produced a decrease in locomotor activity and rearing, and an increase in defaecation. A simple dose-response relationship was not observed, with the most potent effects exerted by the 1 mg/kg dose. Nvertheless, these results indicate that naloxone increases emotionality in the rat and suggest that opioid peptides may be released under conditions of nonpainful stress.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004777:Environment; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone