Interactions between alcohol and other drugs on open-field and temperature measurements in gerbils.

Open-field activity and rectal temperature were measured in mongolian gerbils treated with alcholol (1 and 2 g/kg) only and when alcohol was combined with bemegride (20 and 40 mg/kg), DH-524 (20 mg/kg), or d-amphetamine (8 mg/kg). None of the purported antagonists normalized the alcholol-produced changes in the open-field test, nor did they reverse the alcohol-induced hypothermia. However, alcohol offered protection against bemegride-induced convulsion and death. When compared with pervious data (1) it is suggested that alcohol is differentiated from pentobarbital and diazepam on the basis of their interactional effects with bemegride.