Behavioural effects induced by nitrous oxide in rats performing a vigilance task.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) effects were evaluated, as a behavioural model of inert gas narcosis, in rats performing a vigilance task in which they were required to respond to a slight luminous increment of the house-light. A dose-related decrease of correct responses was produced by the tested range of concentrations of N2O (from 30 to 70% N2O), with a parallel increase of anticipatory responses up to 60% N2O and a dramatic increase of omissions at 70% N2O. The influence of preparatory period duration on hits delays suggested a 'conditional probability effect' conserved under N2O. Pretreatment of animals with flumazenil (a central benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) did not improve performance under 40% N2O. Naltrexone, an opiate receptor antagonist, however, increased the N2O-induced deficits. These results suggest that benzodiazepine receptors are not involved in N2O-induced impairments in this attentional task, but opiate mechanisms may be implicated.
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Unité de Neurosciences, Institut de Médecine Navale du Service de Santé des Armées, Toulon Naval, France.
Hardouin
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J
D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology
D018757:GABA Modulators; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D005442:Flumazenil; D009271:Naltrexone; D009609:Nitrous Oxide