Diminished reaction to a novel stimulus during amphetamine withdrawal in rats.
This experiment determined whether reaction to a novel stimulus was diminished in a dose-dependent fashion following 8 consecutive days of d-amphetamine administration. Thirty-two male rats were injected with saline, 0.5, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/kg of d-amphetamine (each N = 8). On the ninth day, all animals received saline injections and were tested (a) in the presence of a novel stimulus, or (b) in the absence of a novel stimulus. Reaction to the novel stimulus varied inversely with the dose of d-amphetamine which had been received during the drug administration period. This reduction in reaction to the novel stimulus did not seem to depend on (a) the level of amphetamine-induced sterotypy at the end of the drug administration period (b) general reduction of activity, or (c) interference by drug-conditioned responses.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D003913:Dextroamphetamine