Biomaterial Database

Effect of pentobarbital, d-amphetamine, and nicotine on two models of sustained attention in pigeons. 2002

Charlotte A Lemmonds, and D Keith Williams, and Galen R Wenger

Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Biometry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Mail Slot 611, 4301 W Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.

BACKGROUND The animal literature examining the effects of drugs of abuse on sustained attention has provided conflicting results. One reason for these inconsistencies could be the different type of tasks used to measure sustained attention. OBJECTIVE Acute effects of pentobarbital (0.3, 1, 3, 5.6, 10, and 13 mg/kg), d-amphetamine (0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, and 5.6 mg/kg), and nicotine (0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg) were compared in two models of sustained attention. METHODS Dose-response curves were compared in eight male, white Carneaux pigeons trained under a continuous-trial attention procedure and in six male, white Carneaux pigeons trained under a discrete-trial attention procedure. Both procedures required subjects to respond to a variable and brief signal presentation (signal was presented on average every 6.5 s). RESULTS Under the continuous-trial procedure, pentobarbital decreased hits as well as increased the number of false alarms and misses at doses that did not impair the ability of the animals to respond. d-Amphetamine and nicotine dose dependently decreased hits and increased misses at doses that did not impair rates of responding. However, neither psychomotor stimulant caused a significant increase in false alarms. Under the discrete-trial procedure, pentobarbital, d-amphetamine, and nicotine decreased hits and correct rejections and increased misses and errors of omission. For the most part, these drug effects occurred at doses that increased the latencies of the animals to respond. When comparing drug effects between the continuous- and discrete-trial procedures, a difference in the false alarm rate was observed. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that the continuous-trial procedure was able to detect differences between drug classes that were not apparent under the discrete-trial procedure. Although the lack of a true measure of a false alarm rate continues to be a problem with the continuous-trial procedure, it may be an important procedure for studying the effects of pharmacological agents.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009538	Nicotine	Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke.	Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D010424	Pentobarbital	A short-acting barbiturate that is effective as a sedative and hypnotic (but not as an anti-anxiety) agent and is usually given orally. It is prescribed more frequently for sleep induction than for sedation but, like similar agents, may lose its effectiveness by the second week of continued administration. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p236)	Mebubarbital,Mebumal,Diabutal,Etaminal,Ethaminal,Nembutal,Pentobarbital Sodium,Pentobarbital, Monosodium Salt,Pentobarbitone,Sagatal,Monosodium Salt Pentobarbital
D010856	Columbidae	Family in the order COLUMBIFORMES, comprised of pigeons or doves. They are BIRDS with short legs, stout bodies, small heads, and slender bills. Some sources call the smaller species doves and the larger pigeons, but the names are interchangeable.	Columba livia,Doves,Pigeons,Domestic Pigeons,Feral Pigeons,Rock Doves,Rock Pigeons,Domestic Pigeon,Dove,Dove, Rock,Doves, Rock,Feral Pigeon,Pigeon,Pigeon, Domestic,Pigeon, Feral,Pigeon, Rock,Pigeons, Domestic,Pigeons, Feral,Pigeons, Rock,Rock Dove,Rock Pigeon
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D012055	Reinforcement Schedule	A schedule prescribing when the subject is to be reinforced or rewarded in terms of temporal interval in psychological experiments. The schedule may be continuous or intermittent.	Reinforcement Schedules,Schedule, Reinforcement,Schedules, Reinforcement
D003216	Conditioning, Operant	Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced.	Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
D003913	Dextroamphetamine	The d-form of AMPHETAMINE. It is a central nervous system stimulant and a sympathomimetic. It has also been used in the treatment of narcolepsy and of attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity in children. Dextroamphetamine has multiple mechanisms of action including blocking uptake of adrenergics and dopamine, stimulating release of monamines, and inhibiting monoamine oxidase. It is also a drug of abuse and a psychotomimetic.	d-Amphetamine,Curban,Dexamfetamine,Dexamphetamine,Dexedrine,Dextro-Amphetamine Sulfate,DextroStat,Dextroamphetamine Sulfate,Oxydess,d-Amphetamine Sulfate,dextro-Amphetamine,Dextro Amphetamine Sulfate,Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine,d Amphetamine,d Amphetamine Sulfate,dextro Amphetamine
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia