The benzodiazepine receptor partial agonists, bretazenil (Ro 16-6028) and Ro 17-1812, affect saccharin preference and quinine aversion in the rat.
A previous experiment had shown that the benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) agonist, clonazepam, selectively increased the consumption of a 0.05% sodium saccharin solution without change in water intake, in a two-choice preference test. The first aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two benzodiazepine receptor partial agonists, bretazenil (Ro 16-6028) and Ro 17-1812, in the same test. The results showed that both drugs produced effects similar to those observed earlier with clonazepam. The second aim was to investigate the effects of the two compounds on consumption of a 0.005% quinine solution in a two-choice test. Both drugs increased the consumption of the quinine solution without alteration in water intake. In addition, in separate single-choice acceptance tests, both drugs significantly increased the consumption of a familiar, highly palatable 3% sucrose solution. These data are considered in relation to alternative hypotheses for BZR-mediated effects in choice tests.
Laboratory of Psychopharmacology, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
S.J.
SJ
Cooper
A.E.
AE
Green