Effects of the beta-adrenergic blockers propranolol and acebutolol on stress-induced learned helplessness behavior of rats.
The latency time and escape ability of rats with learned helplessness behavior were studied after 1, 6 and 14 days of oral treatment with beta-adrenergic blockers propranolol (1 and 3 mg/kg) and acebutolol (10 and 30 mg/kg). A dose-dependent significant decrease in latency time and increase in number of avoidances was established after single, 6 and 14 days propranolol treatment. The selective beta 1-blocker acebutolol did not change the escape characteristics. These results suggest a greater impact of beta 1- than beta 2-adrenergic receptors for escape performance after unescapable foot shock, i.e., learned helplessness behavior.
Danchev
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N
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Staneva-Stoytcheva
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D
D000070:Acebutolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000070:Acebutolol; D011433:Propranolol