Effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors on performance during differential reinforcement of low response rate

The effects of three monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) on performance under a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 72-s schedule (DRL 72-s) for water reinforcement were determined. All three drugs (isocarboxazid, iproniazid, phenelzine) reduced response rate and increased reinforcement rate in rats performing under the DRL schedule. Drugs from other classes (alcohol, chlordiazepoxide, morphine, pentobarbital) did not produce similar effects. The ability of MAOI to increase reinforcement rate under a DRL 72-s schedule is similar to that recently reported for tricyclic antidepressants and the two atypical antidepressants mianserin and iprindole. These findings support the contention that the DRL schedule may be useful as a test for identifying new antidepressants and for elucidating the neurochemical effects of antidepressants that are responsible for their therapeutic actions.