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Effects of haloperidol and trifluperidol on operant behavior in the rat

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Summary

The effects of trifluperidol (20 to 80 μg/kg), haloperidol (40 to 160μg/ kg) and caffeine (10 mg/kg) on a fixed-ratio operant behavior were studied in young Long-Evans male rats. A significant decrease in the number of emitted lever presses was observed with the largest dose of each of the two butyrophenone derivatives. Trifluperidol was 1.2 times as potent as haloperidol, on a μg/kg basis, in disrupting this food-reinforced behavior. Haloperidol, at the 40 μg/kg dose, and caffeine significantly increased the number of responses in comparison with placebo injections of solvent; this supports the suggestion of biphasic central actions of the butyrophenones. During a chronic drug state produced by daily injections of trifluperidol or haloperidol, there was no evidence of transfer of training, although the daily doses were each less than the acute ED50.

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Investigation supported by USPHS grants MH03241 and TW-794.

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Monti, J.M., Hance, A.J. Effects of haloperidol and trifluperidol on operant behavior in the rat. Psychopharmacologia 12, 34–43 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402752

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