The effect of phenobarbital on food and water intake, activity level, and weight gain in the white rat

"Large doses of phenobarbital were injected intraperitoneally into young male white rats six days a week for several weeks. The effect of this treatment on weight gain, food intake, eating habits, water intake, and activity level was measured, and withdrawal effects were also studied. The exper...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Comparative Psychology 1943-02, Vol.35 (1), p.1-10
Main Author: Jones, M. R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activity Level
Animal
Body Weight
Food Intake
Male
Phenobarbital
Rats
Water Intake
Weight Gain
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Summary:"Large doses of phenobarbital were injected intraperitoneally into young male white rats six days a week for several weeks. The effect of this treatment on weight gain, food intake, eating habits, water intake, and activity level was measured, and withdrawal effects were also studied. The experimental animals ate less than the controls, and had very different eating habits. They also drank less water and gained less weight. Daytime activity level was probably not different in the two groups, but nocturnal activity in the experimental group was depressed. Withdrawal caused a marked temporary decrease in food intake and a statistically insignificant amount of weight loss. Food intake and rate of weight gain showed no improvement after withdrawal of the drug. It is concluded that, in learning experiments designed to study the effects of phenobarbital on mental functioning, the use of food or water as incentives is contraindicated."
ISSN:0093-4127
0021-9940
0735-7036
1939-2087
DOI:10.1037/h0058132