Combined effects of chlordiazepoxide treatment and food deprivation on concurrent measures of feeding and activity.

The effects of chlordiazepoxide (CDP-0, 5, 10 mg/kg) on feeding, rearing, and ambulatory locomotion of male Holtzman rats were investigated in an open-field arena under 3 different conditions of food deprivation (0, 24, 48 hr). Both CDP and food deprivation enhanced feeding, with their combined effects being essentially additive. Also, CDP significantly decreased both rearing and ambulatory locomotion, although this effect tended to be counteracted by increases in food deprivation. The interrelationship (correlation) of the behavioral effects of CDP suggested that the reduction in activity measures is due, in part, to the competing or incompatible nature of feeding and that rearing and ambulatory locomotion are somewhat redundant measures of activity under the present conditions.