title: [Features of active control used in pharmacological studies].
abstract: The effects of 5 injections of salt solution and unfractionary heparin in dose 0.36 microgram/kg (Serva, Germany 10 kDa, activity 180 U/mg) have been studied in Wistar rats. It was found that two injections of salt solution were enough to form a stable defensive state in all rats which was manifested as an expectation of pain in tail-flick testing. The defensive motivation provoked by the injections negatively influenced the learning process as saline-induced rats refused to solve a food-getting task in a problem situation. Explorative and locomotor activities were depressed in these rats and were accompanied by numerous stressful and neurotic-like manifestations. Unlike saline-rats, practically all heparinized-rats instead of 45% of intact rats were able to solve a cognitive task despite the injections. Anxiety was decreased, but sensitivity to different external factors was increased in the heparin-induced rats. Formed habit in these rats was characterized by a high organization and stability. However, the majority heparin effects in tail-flick test were discovered when comparing the heparin-induced rats with intact ones and were not observed in comparison with the saline-rats. It is suggested that the saline-control should be considered as specific control having defensive features which are necessary to take into account in interpretation of effects of other pharmacological preparations.
authors.affiliation: Moscow State University, 119899, Moscow, Vorobyovi Gory, Russia.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Nikol'skaia
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Kondashevskaia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006493:Heparin