The effects of extended insulin dosage on target-directed attack and biting elicited by tailshock

Abstract

Two studies relating extended insulin-dosage level to attack and biting elicited by tailshock are reported. In Experiment 1 four groups of rats received subcutaneous injections of 12, 16, 20, or 24 units of regular zinc insulin, respectively, prior to shock testing. A fifth group served as an injection control. Response level for the 12-unit insulin group was significantly higher than for all other groups. Surprisingly, the response level of the 24-unit group was higher than that of the 16-and 20-unit groups. Dosage levels of 12, 28, and 32 units were employed in the second study to investigate this elevated responding. High and virtually identical response levels were shown by the 12and 28-unit groups, with an extremely low response level being shown by the 32-unit group.

Active avoidance responding as a function of insulin-induced hypoglycemia

“…increased (Neideffer et al , 1977), (2) a curvilinear relationship appeared to exist between insulin dose and amount of attack and biting (Davis, Gussetto , Tramill, Neideffer , & Travis-Neideffer, 1978), and (3) chronic insulin-injection procedures did not lead to habituation or adaptation of attack and biting (Davis, Cronin , Meriwether, Neideffer, & Travis-Neideffer, 1978).…”