title: Beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists enhance the benzodiazepine-induced suppression of footshock induced fighting in mice.
abstract: Aggressive behavior in the footshock induced fighting test (FIFT) was studied after treatment with benzodiazepines (diazepam, nitrazepam, temazepam, medazepam) given alone or in combination with beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists (propranolol, oxprenolol, practolol). With the combinations of those drugs it was found that diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) with propranolol, oxprenolol, and practolol (20 mg/kg); nitrazepam (0.25 mg/kg) with propranolol (10 mg/kg) and nitrazepam (0.1 mg/kg) with practolol (20 mg/kg); temazepam (0.5 mg/kg) with propranolol (10 mg/kg) and temazepam (1 mg/kg) with oxprenolol and practolol (20 mg/kg); medazepam (1.5 mg/kg) with propranolol (10.mg/kg) and medazepam (1 mg/kg) with practolol (20 mg/kg) produced a statistically significant decrease in frequency of fighting episodes in mice as compared with benzodiazepines alone and with control animals. The results demonstrate that beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists potentiate the antiaggressive action of benzodiazepines when given in doses which by themselves do not suppress aggression.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004597:Electroshock; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines