CORRELATIONS OF ACTIVATING AND LETHAL EFFECTS OF EXCITATORY DRUGS IN GROUPED AND ISOLATED MICE

A study was undertaken to determine whether stimulants other than sympathomimetic amines showed an increased lethal action in grouped mice compared to isolated mice. The associations amongst drug action on lethality, motor activity and rectal temperatures as additional parameters of stimulant action were also examined. The following drugs were significantly more toxic to grouped than to isolated mice: metham- phetamine, dl -amphetamine, methyiphenidate, β-phenylisopropylhydrazine, pipradrol, amiphenazole, caffeine and picrotoxin. The following showed no differences: pheneizine, mescaline, ephedrine, pentylenetetrazol and bemegride. Significant associations were found to exist amongst increased lethality and actions on motor activity and rectal temperatures in grouped mice; no corresponding associations were found in the isolated mice.