Drug-induced suppression of conditioned hyperthermic and conditioned avoidance behavior response in rats

The influence of different drugs on conditioned avoidance behavior and hyperthermia induced by the conditioning situation in rats has been investigated.A specific blocking of conditioned avoidance responses was observed with neuroleptic drugs, but, except for chlorpromazine and thioridazine, they did not affect the conditioned temperature rise.Benzodiazepine derivatives and meprobamate consistently suppressed the hyperthermia at doses which did not impair conditioned avoidance behavior.Among other psychoactive drugs only imipramine (10 mg/kg i.p.) and desipramine (5 mg/kg i.p.) have shown an inhibitory effect on hyperthermia. The conditioned behavioral response was not influenced.Phentolamine at higher doses slightly suppressed the temperature rise. Morphine and aspirin were inactive regarding both parameters tested.