The effects of extended training and acute administration of an anxiolytic on avoidance learning and intertrial responding in the Syracuse strains of rats.
Male and female animals of the SHA/Bru and SLA/Bru strains of rats were given extended two-way avoidance training in the shuttle box at the rate of 30 trials per day for 11 days. SLA/Bru animals increased their avoidance responses (AVRs) from approximately 10 to roughly 25%, whereas animals of the SHA/Bru strain remained unchanged at approximately 100% AVRs. SHA/Bru animals made a number of intertrial responses (ITRs) early in the experiment; these declined after about 3 days to the low level made by SLA/Bru animals. Chlordiazepoxide (CDP) had no effect on AVRs in animals of either strain, and had no effect on ITRs made by animals of the SHA/Bru strain, but increased ITRs, in a dose-dependent way, in animals of the SLA/Bru strain. These results are interpreted in terms of the well-established genetic difference in emotional reactivity between animals of the two strains and in terms of genetically determined differences in sensitivity to anxiolytic drugs such as CDP.
Gendron
C M
CM
Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1364, USA.
Brush
F R
FR
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide