The effects of imipramine treatment on the unconditioned alimentary behavior and classical conditioned salivary reactions in dogs

Abstract

In Experiment I the effect of imipramine treatment on the unconditioned food intake in dogs was tested. In Experiment II imipramine was injected in dogs in which classical conditioned salivary reflexes had been previously elaborated. Both conditioned and unconditioned salivation were decreased. The differentiation of conditioned salivation to CS+ and CS- was disturbed during the imipramine treatment, due to the prominent decrease of conditioned salivary reflexes to CS+ and also increase of reactions to CS-. Imipramine treatment produced only a slight decrease of food intake. In most dogs of both groups the increase of general arousal and improvement of social contact was observed. The variability of the imipramine effect on particular parameters of alimentary behavior depended on the individual characteristics of each dog. It is concluded that in the evaluation of the effect of imipramine one should take into consideration its differential influences on various motor, autonomic and emotional, central as well as peripheral components of alimentary behavior and characteristics of the individual subjects.