Comparison of the inhibitory action of aminobeclamide and beclamide on socially offensive behaviour

Abstract

Abstract The inhibitory effects of aminobeclamide (N-(p-aminobenzyl)-β-chloropropionamide) on socially offensive behaviour has been studied and compared with those of the parent drug beclamide (N-benzyl-β-chloropropionamide). Following oral administration in mice which had been individually housed for a 28 day period then paired with normal group-housed opponents, aminobeclamide and beclamide both produced significant and dose-related inhibition of socially offensive behaviour. Aminobeclamide (20–150 mg kg−1 p.o.) and beclamide (50–250 mg kg−1 p.o.) gave increased offense onset latency whilst at the same time they reduced the incidence of offense encounters/animal and decreased the group percentage of animals displaying offense behaviour. It is likely that both drugs have similar monoamine modifying effects though this animal study suggests that aminobeclamide is 1.5 to 2.7 times more potent than beclamide against socially offensive behaviour.