Abstract
The β adrenergic (β) agonist salbutamol increased reinforcement rates and decreased response rates on a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate (DRL) 72-S schedule.
These changes in DRL 72-S schedule performance are also produced by most clinically used antidepressants.
The effects of salbutamol on a DRL 72-S schedule were dose-dependently antagonized by the β antagonist metoprolol, but not changed by the 5HT antagonist methysergide. Additionally, neither salbutamol nor the antagonism of salbutamol by metoprolol caused disruption of DRL 72-S schedule performance. These results indicate that stimulation of β receptors, and not of 5HT receptors, mediates salbutamol antidepressant-like effects on a DRL 72-S schedule.
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This work supported by NIMH PHS MH-19111
Recipient Research Scientist Award MH-10562
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Dunn, R.T., Richards, J.B. & Seiden, L.S. Effects of salbutamol upon performance on an operant screen for antidepressants. Psychopharmacology 113, 1–10 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244325
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244325