I M White | PubMed Health

PubMed1992

A lever-release version of the conditioned avoidance response paradigm: effects of haloperidol, clozapine, sulpiride, and BMY-14802.

Rats trained on a lever-release version of the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) task were used to test the behavioral effects of established and putative antipsychotic drugs. Baseline CAR latencies decreased as the conditioned-unconditioned stimulus interval was shortened from 500 to 250 ms. Haloperidol, clozapine, and BMY-14802 decreased successful avoidance responses and increased avoidance latencies in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the latency of escape responses. In contrast, sulpiride failed to affect either successful avoidance response rates or avoidance latency. Sulpiride, however, significantly attenuated d-amphetamine-induced locomotion and rearing compared to vehicle-treated controls. Similar effects of these antipsychotics have been reported on shuttlebox avoidance, and these results now are confirmed in a CAR paradigm that achieves greater control over behavior. Because this paradigm elicits a discrete forelimb response without activating numerous muscle groups, it is potentially useful as a tool for examining neuronal mechanisms underlying the behavioral effects of antipsychotic drugs.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Pitfalls to avoid: the Australian experience.

In this paper the major health problems facing Australia's Aboriginal population are reviewed and an attempt is made to assess the genetic and environmental, social and cultural factors to which they may be attributed. Among Aborigines living in remote areas under semi-tribal conditions, recent improvements in health, though considerable, have not been commensurate with the greatly increased expenditure on health and welfare services. This disappointing outcome is due partly to loss of control by Aborigines over their own lives, including matters concerning health, and partly to failure of white medical and welfare personnel to communicate with people holding different beliefs about health and disease. The bad health of Aborigines living in cities and rural areas can be attributed largely to their poverty, which in turn stems from discrimination in employment, housing and community services. In both the remote and the settled areas health services for Aborigines are increasingly coming under the control of Aborigines themselves and producing encouraging results.

Adult↗