Differential effects of naloxone against the diazepam-induced release of behavior in rats in three aversive situations

Abstract

The effects of naloxone on diazepam-induced release of behavior in aversive situations were investigated in rats. Naloxone (0.5 and 1 mg/kg^-1) suppressed diazepam-induced eating in an unfamiliar situation and reduced (1 mg/kg^-1) spontaneous food intake. Naloxone (1 mg/kg^-1) canceled the increased lever pressing produced by diazepam in a conflict procedure in which one electric shock was delivered at each seventh press. Naloxone (1 mg/kg^-1) failed to reverse the enhanced responding for food induced by diazepam in the presence of a signal previously paired with electric foot shocks. In this situation, naloxone alone reinforced the behavioral suppression. These results suggest that transmission mediated by opiate peptides may be involved in only some ‘disinhibitory’ effects of benzodiazepines. In addition, such a peptidergic transmission may play a role in the control of stress-induced behavioral suppression.