Effects of chlordiazepoxide on food anticipation, drinking and other behaviors in food-deprived and satiated rats

Abstract

Two groups of rats, Deprived and Satiated, were presented with food according to a fixed time 60-sec schedule. They were then injected with saline, 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg of chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride according to a Latin square design. During saline administration time spent visiting the food tray, time spent drinking, number of tray entries and the amount of water ingested were always greater in the Deprived than in the Satiated group; whereas the opposite was true for grooming. As chlordiazepoxide dose increased time spent visiting the food tray increased in both groups, but the effect was bigger in the Satiated than in the Deprived group. Drinking was not affected by the drug. Grooming and sniffing-rearing were reduced as the dose increased.