Aversive stimulus properties of scopolamine

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1981 Sep;15(3):389-92. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(81)90267-7.

Abstract

The drug state produced in rats by intraperitoneal injections of scopolamine hydrobromide (1.2 mg/kg) was treated as a putative aversive US. This US was paired with a distinctive spatial location in a shuttle box for 6 of 12 daily sessions by confining the subject to one side following scopolamine and to the other side following saline (6 sessions). Two groups of 8 subjects each received zero and 20 min post-injection delays respectively. Following zero delay, but not 20 min delay, subjects avoided the side associated with scopolamine in drug-free, free choice tests. This is evidence that the immediate post-injection drug state induced by scopolamine is aversive.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Avoidance Learning / drug effects*
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Scopolamine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Scopolamine