Chronic antidepressant and clonidine treatment effects on conflict behavior in the rat.
The present studies examined the effects of chronic treatment with several antidepressants and clonidine on conflict behavior. In daily ten-minute sessions, water-deprived rats were trained to drink from a tube which was occasionally electrified (0.25 or 0.5 mA). Electrification was signalled by a tone. Chronic desipramine (5 mg/kg, IP, b.i.d.) or clonidine (40 micrograms/kg, b.i.d.) treatment resulted in time-dependent anticonflict effects, with a latency to onset of approximately 3-4 weeks. In contrast, chronic buproprion (up to 10 mg/kg, IP, b.i.d.), mianserin (up to 10 mg/kg, IP, b.i.d.) or trazodone (up to 40 mg/kg, IP, b.i.d.) treatment resulted in at best only a weak anticonflict effect. The efficacy of these antidepressants and clonidine to increase punished responding when administered chronically correlates well with their efficacy as antipanic agents in man.
Commissaris
R L
RL
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Professions, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202.
Ellis
D M
DM
Hill
T J
TJ
Schefke
D M
DM
Becker
C A
CA
Fontana
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D016642:Bupropion; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008803:Mianserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D014196:Trazodone / Q000494:pharmacology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011427:Propiophenones; D016642:Bupropion; D008803:Mianserin; D003000:Clonidine; D003891:Desipramine; D014196:Trazodone