ACQUISITION AND RETENTION OF A CONDITIONED AVOIDANCE RESPONSE IN MICE AS INFLUENCED BY PEMOLINE BY SOME OF ITS DERIVATIVES AND BY SOME CNS STIMULANTS

Pemoline (2-imino-5-phenyl-4-oxazolidinone), four of its derivatives and six CNS stimulants have been tested orally for their effect in improving acquisition of an avoidance response in albino and C57 black mice. The experiments have been performed in a shuttle box using light as a conditioned stimulus and electric foot shock as an unconditioned stimulus. Pemoline, 10 mg/kg/day, over 5 days improved learning of the avoidance response. None of its derivatives and none of the CNS stimulants tested had a similar effect at the dosed used. The effect of pemoline was not enhanced by a concomitant administration of magnesium hydroxide. Pemoline did not have a clear-cut effect on the retention of the avoidance response. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.