Chronic Chlordiazepoxide Administration
Objective: To evaluate the effects of chronic chlordiazepoxide administration on social interaction and anxiety-related behaviors across different test conditions (varying light levels and box familiarity)
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment2
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned
Materials1
Not specified • Not applicable • Not specified • Not mentioned
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Protocol Steps
Establish baseline conditions with familiar box and low light
Place pairs of male rats in a test box under low light conditions with which they were familiar
Note: This condition produced maximum active social interaction in undrugged rats
View evidence from paper
“Pairs of male rats were placed in a test box for 10 min and the time they spent in active social interaction was scored. Maximum active interaction was found when the rats were tested under low light in a box with which they were familiar”
Test with increased light level
Increase the light level in the test box while keeping the box familiar and measure social interaction, exploration, defecation, and freezing
Note: Active social interaction and exploration decreased under this condition in undrugged rats
View evidence from paper
“When the light level was increased or when the box was unfamiliar active social interaction decreased. Exploration (time spent sniffing objects) decreased in the same way”
Test with unfamiliar box
Place rat pairs in an unfamiliar test box and measure social interaction, exploration, defecation, and freezing behaviors
Note: Active social interaction and exploration decreased under this condition in undrugged rats; defecation and freezing increased
View evidence from paper
“When the light level was increased or when the box was unfamiliar active social interaction decreased. As these decreased, defecation, and freezing increased”
Administer chronic chlordiazepoxide
Chronically administer chlordiazepoxide at 5 mg/kg to test rats
Note: Chronic administration contrasts with acute administration which only produces sedative effects
View evidence from paper
“Chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg) given chronically prevented or significantly reduced the decrease in social interaction that occurred in undrugged rats”
Test chlordiazepoxide-treated rats under increased light conditions
Place chlordiazepoxide-treated rat pairs in familiar box with increased light and measure social interaction
Note: Chronic chlordiazepoxide prevented or significantly reduced the decrease in social interaction that occurred in undrugged rats
View evidence from paper
“Chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg) given chronically prevented or significantly reduced the decrease in social interaction that occurred in undrugged rats as the light level or the unfamiliarity of the test box was increased”
Test chlordiazepoxide-treated rats in unfamiliar box
Place chlordiazepoxide-treated rat pairs in an unfamiliar test box and measure social interaction
Note: Chronic chlordiazepoxide prevented or significantly reduced the decrease in social interaction that occurred in undrugged rats
View evidence from paper
“Chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg) given chronically prevented or significantly reduced the decrease in social interaction that occurred in undrugged rats as the light level or the unfamiliarity of the test box was increased”
Conduct anosmic control tests
Test anosmic (olfactory-impaired) rat pairs to determine whether decreases in social interaction across test conditions could be attributed to olfactory changes in the partner
Note: Controls showed that the decrease in social interaction could not be attributed to olfactory changes in the partner
View evidence from paper
“Anosmic controls showed that the decrease in social interaction across test conditions could not be attributed to olfactory changes in the partner”
Conduct control tests for selective drug effects
Perform control experiments to determine whether chlordiazepoxide effects could be entirely attributed to the drug acting selectively to increase low levels of responding
Note: Controls showed that the effect could not be entirely attributed to chlordiazepoxide acting selectively to increase low levels of responding
View evidence from paper
“Controls showed that this effect could not be entirely attributed to chlordiazepoxide acting selectively to increase low levels of responding”