title: Behavioral activating effects of adrafinil in aged canines.
abstract: Adrafinil, a vigilance enhancing pharmaceutical, was administered to aged dogs for 14 consecutive days at doses of 10, 20, 30, or 40 mg/kg using a crossover design. The effects on spontaneous behavior in a 10-min canine open-field test were systematically recorded every fourth day, starting with day 1 of treatment. The open field tests were given 2 or 10 h following oral administration of capsules containing either adrafinil or lactose, the placebo control. Adrafinil caused an increase in locomotor activity at the three highest doses at both the 2- and 10-h intervals and during both the first (days 1 and 5) and second treatment week (days 9 and 13). Adrafinil also caused a transient increase in directed sniffing. At the highest dose level, adrafinil caused a decrease in urination frequency. The increased locomotion was generally unaccompanied by stereotypical behavior in the test session. There was some variability; a subpopulation of animals showed either no effect, or decreased locomotion. The individual differences were correlated with changes in serum levels of adrafinil 10 h following treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Scarborough, Canada.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Siwak
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gruet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Woehrlé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Muggenburg
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Murphey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Milgram
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D000077408:Modafinil
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; C054890:benzyhydrylsulfinylacetic acid; C022116:adrafinil; D000077408:Modafinil