Victor A. Colotla

Effects of MPTP on locomotor activity in mice

Thirty-two mice were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups of 8 animals each: the first received IP saline injections and the other 3 groups received 10, 20 or 30 mg/kg MPTP. Each dose or saline was administered 3 times in 3 consecutive days and locomotor activity was measured during the next 3 days. In addition, the animals were observed in 2 trials in a rotating rod (Rotarod) and a grip test. The 2 highest doses of the drug produced significant increases in locomotor activity. In the other two behavioral tests, the highest dose of MPTP significantly reduced the capability of the animals to remain on the Rotarod on the grid.

Adjunctive polydipsia as a model of alcoholism

Schedule-induced polydipsia or adjunctive drinking as been proposed as an animal model of alcoholism. Procedures employed to modify adjunctive drinking are reviewed here in order to evaluate their usefulness in the control of schedule-induced alcohol consumption. The major procedures employed to alter adjunctive drinking are: (1) physiological, such as pre-loading the animal with water, desalivating the animal, or adding a sweet solution to the water; (2) pharmacological, such as evaluating the effects of amphetamines or other drugs on adjunctive drinking; and (3) behavioral, such as changing the inter-reinforcement interval length, making an alternative response available, or giving the animal the option to terminate an extinction period. Altering the palatability of alcohol and utilizing behavioral methods to control drinking appear to be the most promising lines of investigation employing this animal model of alcoholism.

Behavioral and biochemical correlates of chronic administration of quipazine

In Experiment 1 groups of rats received single injections of 1, 3, 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg quipazine, and their total 24-hr food and water intake after a 24-hr deprivation period was recorded; there was a dose-related reduction of both food and water intake. In Experiment 2 a group of 15 rats received 5 mg/kg/day, SC quipazine during 29 days, and a control group received saline injections. During treatment, all animals were exposed to a 24-hr food and water deprivation schedule, alternated with 24 hr of free access. Food and water consumption was measured 2 and 24 hr after drug injection; regional 5-HT concentrations were determined at 1 and 13 treatment days by fluorometric assay. Beginning the first treatment day, food and water intake decreased, but by the 13th day the quipazine group had returned to normal ingestion levels. 5-HT concentrations were increased in cerebellum and cortex in acute conditions, but after 13 days they had decreased in cerebellar samples. In Experiment 3 we found that the effects of quipazine on food and water ingestion were recovered after 14 days of discontinuing chronic drug administration.

PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SCIENTIST: XLII. SCIENTIFIC EMINENCE AND READING EASE

This study attempted to evaluate whether the frequency with which an individuals articles are reprinted in books of readings in introductory psychology is an adequate measure of scientific eminence. 22 authors were identified as having at least eight articles reprinted in a sample of 30 books of readings. While many of them are considered as eminent by other criteria, suggesting that the variable studied here is an appropriate measure of scientific eminence in psychology, several eminent psychologists did not have as many articles reprinted in the sample of books. It is hypothesized that both scientific eminence and readability of the authors, work combine to determine the probability that scientists have their work reprinted in anthologies for the undergraduate student.

Within-signal associations in lacquier-thinner conditioned aversion

The present experiment attenmpted to evaluate the formation of associations between elements of an odour-flavour compoundpared with a LiCl injection, in rats. The data obxadtained show that the aversion produced to the lacquer thinner odour is greater when this is paired with LiCl simultaneously with the saccitarin flavour, than when the thinner odour is paired with LiCl separatdy. The aversion to the saccitarin flavour is sligittly greater in the odour-flavour compound that when produced separately. These data confirm the posxadsibility that associations between the saccitarin flavour and thinner odour elements are responsible for the effect reported here, and hence the results are discussed in the titeorexadtical context of the within-signal associations.

La psicopatología en animales

La obra dirigida por J.D. Keehn, de la Universidad York (Canada) y que tiene por titulo “Los origenes de la locura. La psicopatologia en la vida animal” tiene como meta el familiarizar a los trabajadores experimentales y clinicos con las colaboraciones al estudio de la conducta anormal en animales y su relacion con la psicopatologia humana. El libro consta de una introduccion en la que se justifica la seleccion de los articulos reimpresos, explicando lo que cada una de las secciones intenta ejemplificar. Esta introduccion es seguida por once secciones, cada una de ellas con un promedio de cuatro articulos seleccionados de diversas fuentes. La primera seccion con el titulo de Psicopatologia animal y humana, ilustra la presentacion espontanea de anormalidades conductuales en animales, que guardan cierta semejanza con la psicopatologia humana.

Adipsic, but not anorectic, effect of fluprazine hydrochloride in rats

The present experiment explored the anorectic and adipsic effects of fluprazine hydrochloride, a phenylpiperazine compound. Thirty-eight albino rats were randomly assigned either to a control saline group (six rats) or to groups (eight subjects each) receiving an IP dose of fluprazine in saline (1.25, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg). No anorectic effect of the drug doses was observed 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 min, and 24 h after drug injection. However, water drinking was significantly decreased 30 min after drug administration, with 5 and 10 mg/kg, compared to saline.