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Chlordiazepoxide attenuates response suppression induced by corticotropin-releasing factor in the conflict test

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Abstract

The role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in mediating the stress response was studied using a behavioral test in which anxiety or conflict influence performance. Rats implanted with intraventricular cannulae were tested in a Geller-Seifter conflict test modified for incremental shock. CRF produced a dose-dependent attenuation of punished and nonpunished responding in the conflict test. Chlordiazepoxide increased punished, but not unpunished, responding and produced a dose-dependent reversal of CRF-induced response suppression. CRF had no effect on tail flick or hot-plate analgesia tests. The results support the hypothesis that CRF produces behavioral effects consistent with “anxiety” or an increased responsiveness to stress.

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Britton, K.T., Morgan, J., Rivier, J. et al. Chlordiazepoxide attenuates response suppression induced by corticotropin-releasing factor in the conflict test. Psychopharmacology 86, 170–174 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431704

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