ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Chronic diazepam
;
Withdrawal hyperactivity
;
Diarrhoea
;
Clonidine
;
Guanfacine
;
B-HT 920
;
Rat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Rats were made diazepam dependent by chronic treatment with daily injections of the drug, 20 mg/kg, IP, for 3 weeks. On abrupt termination of the drug, the animals showed withdrawal hyperactivity which was indicated by increased horizontal locomotion and vertical activity, and diarrhoea. The peak effect was seen 3 days after the withdrawal of diazepam. Effects of various alpha2 agonists, clonidine, guanfacine and B-HT 920, were studied on the diazepam withdrawal phenomena. Clonidine (100 μg/kg, IP) given twice a day at an interval of 12 h prevented both withdrawal-induced hyperactivity and diarrhoea. On the contrary, equimolar doses of guanfacine and B-HT 920 failed to reverse withdrawal-induced hyperactivity but attenuated the effect of diarrhoea. However, higher doses (500 μg/kg, IP) of guanfacine and B-HT 920 given twice a day at 12-h intervals were found to be effective. Pretreatment with yohimbine (1.5 mg/kg, IP) reversed the protective effect of clonidine, indicating the involvement of alpha2 receptors in the action of clonidine.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00181241
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