Benzhexol Causes Conditioning Place Preference in Male Rats

Abstract

Background: Benzhexol hydrochloride ( Trihexyphenidyl ) is a potent anticholinergic agent. Abuse of benzhexol has been noted with increasing frequency in recent years Aim of the study: to determine the conditioning place preference of benzhexol administration in the male rats.Materials and methods: Sixteen male, adult, albino rats were useded in this experiments. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups, eight rats for each group. Each rat of group 1 was placed in the control compartment and once the rat enter the drug compartment, the animal received N.S. in equal volume to the benzhexol dose,, orally (p.o.), by gastric tube. Each rat of group 2 was placed in the control compartment and once the rat enter the drug compartment, the animal received benzhexol 0.2 mg/kg, p.o., by gastric tube. Previous two steps were repeated twice daily for 10 days. On 11th day, each rat in was placed in the control compartment for 10 minutes and all behaviors of the animals were recorded by video camera.Results and conclusion: In group 2 (benzhexol 0.2 mg/kg), the time which spent in the drug chamber (white and brown color) significantly increased (P<0.05) as compared with the time which spent in the control chamber. This study reported that administration of 0.2 mg/kg of benzhexol, twice daily (pd), for 10 days caused conditioning place preference in the rats.