Effects of various drugs including organophosphorus compounds (OPC) and therapeutic compounds against OPC on DRL responding

The effects of various drugs were assessed in rats responding under a Differential-Reinforcement-of-low-Rate 30-s (DRL 30-s) schedule. Atropine, scopolamine, and CEB-1957 (a new muscarinic blocker) increased response rate and decreased reinforcement rate, while methylatropine only decreased reinforcement rate. Physostigmine decreased response and reinforcement rates, when pyridostigmine had few effect on DRL responding. The irreversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors organophosphorus compounds (OPC) soman and sarin, injected at one-third of the LDS, did not consistently alter DRL performance, suggesting that they produce few behavioral effects in the rat when administered at subtoxic doses. Three oximes-pralidoxime, pyrimidoxime, and HI-6-decreased both response and reinforcement rates. Mecamylamine had few consistent effects on performance, and nicotine, d-amphetamine, diazepam, and the wakening drug modafinil increased response rate and decreased reinforcement rate. These two latter drugs also increased the number of very premature responses. These results, taken together, indicate that a DRL schedule is a useful tool to bring to light the existence of psychotropic effects of a drug. The explanation of drug-induced alterations of DRL performance, in terms of effects on cognition or on mood, is also discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.