Shock-elicited fighting and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

The frequency with which electric shock to the feet elicited fighting in five pairs of albino rats was not altered significantly by intraperitoneal injections of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in doses ranging from 0.064–6.4 mg/kg, although chlordiazepoxide reduced the frequency of such fighting in a dose-related manner. This finding held true despite manipulations of THC vehicle, injection-test interval, and the previous drug experience of the subjects. In contrast, doses of 4.0 mg/kg produced a striking reduction in lever-pressing maintained by an FI 60 schedule of food reinforcement.