Antagonism of morphine by long acting narcotic antagonists

Thirty-six female albino rats, trained to run for a chocolate reward in a circular runway, were treated according to 6×6 Latin square schemes with five doses of 3-quinuclidinylbenzilate, ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg/kg, or the vehicle. On experimental days there were 6 consecutive trials. Intraperitoneal injections were administered 20 min before the first trial. The apparatus was automated as far as the opening of sliding doors and the recording of the duration of running, subdivided into latency and running-time, were concerned. Along with the duration of running, the behaviour shown in the various parts of the maze was analysed. The drug caused a marked, dose-dependent increase of the latency, whereas the effect on running-time was comparatively small. During the latency the frequency of ambivalent behaviours, shown at the transition of the start-goal compartment and the runway, increased under the influence of 1 mg/kg or more. Concomitant increases were noted in the frequency of displacement activities, which were absent in control animals. The results were interpreted as a drug-induced intensification of a conflict, existing in normal animals between the tendency to stay in the vicinity of the reward and the tendency to run for a subsequent reward.