title: Further studies on BL-3912A: effects on avoidance behavior of rats with low baselines and on reaction thresholds to electric footshock.
abstract: Rats selected for their low performance baselines in an active avoidance shuttle box task were given various doses of R-(-)-2-amino-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl) butane (BL-3912A), S-amphetamine or piracetam. BL-3912A at 1 mg/kg IP had no significant behavioral effects, while 5 and 10 mg/kg significantly increased the number of avoidance responses without affecting responses during the intertrial interval (ITI). Statistically reliable effects on behavior were not observed following 20 mg/kg of BL-3912A. S-Amphetamine at 0.5 and 1 mg/kg IP also facilitated avoidance responding, but could be differentiated from BL-3912A in that the S-amphetamine significantly increased shuttles during the ITI. S-Amphetamine at 0.1 mg/kg was not effective, while 2 mg/kg increased ITI activity. Piracetam (50 or 200 mg/kg) had no significant effects on avoidance or shuttles during ITI. Using an electric shock titration procedure, BL-3912A at 10 and 20 mg/kg IP had no significant effect on reaction thresholds. Animals receiving 100 mg/kg of p-chlorophenylalanine po for 3 days and tested 2 days later showed hyperalgesia to the electric shock. In summary, BL-3912A facilitated shuttle box avoidance responding of rats with low performance baselines. Behavioral facilitation occurred without concomitant increases in noncontingent activity or apparent changes in reactivity to electric footshock.
mesh_terms: D004290:DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004597:Electroshock; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D006213:Hallucinogens; C006179:dimoxamine; D004290:DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine; D000661:Amphetamine; D010889:Piracetam