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  • Title: Alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonists differentially influence locomotor and stereotyped behaviour induced by d-amphetamine and apomorphine in the rat.
    Author: Dickinson SL, Gadie B, Tulloch IF.
    Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl); 1988; 96(4):521-7. PubMed ID: 2907662.
    Abstract:
    The importance of dopamine (DA) in mediating locomotor, exploratory and stereotyped behaviour in rodents is well established. Evidence also indicates a modulatory role for noradrenaline (NA) although, due to nonspecificity. of previously available agents, a precise role remains undefined. The effects of the specific and selective alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists idazoxan (alpha 2) and prazosin (alpha 1) on behaviour induced by amphetamine and apomorphine have been investigated in the rat. d-Amphetamine (2 mg/kg) induced hyperactive locomotion and exploration. Pretreatment with prazosin (1 mg/kg) markedly reduced these responses. In contrast, pretreatment with idazoxan (20 mg/kg) only marginally altered d-amphetamine hyperactivity. Apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) induced biphasic locomotor and exploratory activity. Neither alpha-antagonist affected the initial burst of activity (60 min), although prazosin inhibited whereas idazoxan potentiated the secondary phase (90-180 min). At higher dosage, amphetamine (6 mg/kg) and apomorphine (2 mg/kg) induced stereotyped behaviours. Prazosin pretreatment enhanced stereotyped gnawing and decreased sniffing and locomotion, whereas idazoxan increased locomotion and decreased amphetamine-induced mouth movements. These data indicate that DA-induced locomotor and stereotyped behaviours are differentially influenced (in opposite directions) by both alpha1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonists. NA may thus modulate the expression and character of behaviour by influencing DA function in certain brain areas.
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