[Effects of afloqualone, a new centrally acting muscle relaxant, on DRL response and CER in rats (author's transl)].

In gross-behavioral observations, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, meprobamate, and pentobarbital-Na produced excitatory behavior at 5 and 10, 1 and 2, 100 and 200, and 10 and 20 mg/kg p.o., respectively whereas afloqualone produced no excitatory behavior at doses up to 20 mg/kg p.o., these doses induce muscle relaxation and motor depression. Afloqualone depressed DRL response at 10 and 20 mg/kg p.o. Similar effects were seen with chlorpromazine (5, 10, 20 mg/kg p.o.). Chlordiazepoxide, meprobamate, and pentobarbital-Na facilitated DRL response at doses producing excitatory behavior. Methamphetamine (0.5, 1, 2 mg/kg p.o.) facilitated the response, dose-dependently. In CER, chlordiazepoxide (5, 10, 20 mg/kg p.o.), diazepam (1, 2, 5 mg/kg p.o.), and meprobamate (50, 100, 200 mg/kg p.o.) dose-dependently increased the response during the alarm period, regardless of the response during the safe period. Pentobarbital-Na (5, 10, 20 mg/kg p.o.) had much the same effect. Afloqualone slightly increased the response during the alarm period in one out of 3 rats at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg p.o., respectively. Chlorpromazine and methamphetamine had no influence on the response during the alarm period at doses up to 20 and 2 mg/kg p.o., respectively. These results suggest that the pharmacological properties of afloqualone, as related to behavior differ from those of anti-anxiety drugs, hypnotics, and stimulants.