Biomaterial Database

Pentobarbital-like discriminative stimulus properties of halothane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, isoamyl nitrite, flurothyl and oxazepam in mice. 1987

D C Rees, and J S Knisely, and R L Balster, and S Jordan, and T J Breen

Volatile inhalants represent a diverse group of chemicals which pose a public health problem because of their abuse potential and neurobehavioral toxicity. Although relatively little is known about their pharmacology, they share certain pharmacological properties with classic central nervous system depressants. Drug discrimination procedures were used to compare the effects produced by pentobarbital (PB), oxazepam and several inhalants. Mice were trained to discriminate PB from saline injections in a two-lever operant task. Stimulus generalization was examined after 20-min inhalation exposures to halothane (500-8000 ppm), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (500-12000 ppm), isoamyl nitrite (150-1050 ppm), flurothyl (562-1300 ppm) and injections of oxazepam (0.1-20 mg/kg). Halothane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and oxazepam produced discriminative stimulus effects similar to those produced by PB. Isoamyl nitrite and flurothyl, while decreasing rates of responding, were not consistently generalized from PB. Differences are apparent in the PB-like discriminative effects of inhalants. Toluene, as shown in a previous study, as well as halothane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane have PB-like discriminative effects which are also shared by oxazepam and may be another common effect of central nervous system depressants. Other chemicals, like isoamyl nitrite and flurothyl, are representative of qualitatively different classes of behaviorally active inhalants.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010076	Oxazepam	A benzodiazepine used in the treatment of anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and insomnia.	Adumbran,Serax,Tazepam
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
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
D004193	Discrimination Learning	Learning that is manifested in the ability to respond differentially to various stimuli.	Discriminative Learning,Discrimination Learnings,Discriminative Learnings,Learning, Discrimination,Learning, Discriminative
D005481	Flurothyl	A convulsant primarily used in experimental animals. It was formerly used to induce convulsions as a alternative to electroshock therapy.	Fluorothyl,Flurotyl,Indoklon
D006221	Halothane	A nonflammable, halogenated, hydrocarbon anesthetic that provides relatively rapid induction with little or no excitement. Analgesia may not be adequate. NITROUS OXIDE is often given concomitantly. Because halothane may not produce sufficient muscle relaxation, supplemental neuromuscular blocking agents may be required. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p178)	1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-Chloro-2-Bromoethane,Fluothane,Ftorotan,Narcotan
D006843	Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated	Hydrocarbon compounds with one or more of the hydrogens replaced by CHLORINE.	Chlorinated Hydrocarbon,Chlorinated Hydrocarbons,Organochlorine Compound,Chlorine Compounds, Organic,Organochlorine Compounds,Compound, Organochlorine,Compounds, Organic Chlorine,Compounds, Organochlorine,Hydrocarbon, Chlorinated,Organic Chlorine Compounds
D000280	Administration, Inhalation	The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract.	Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D000680	Amyl Nitrite	A vasodilator that is administered by inhalation. It is also used recreationally due to its supposed ability to induce euphoria and act as an aphrodisiac.	Nitrite, Amyl