Behavioral effects of apomorphine isomers in the rat: selective locomotor-inhibitory effects of S(+)N-n-propylnorapomorphine.

The optical isomers of apomorphine (APO) and N-n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) were evaluated behaviorally in the rat. Both R(-) isomers induced motor-excitatory effects and strong stereotyped sniffing, licking, and gnawing, as has been reported previously. The S(+) isomers selectively inhibited locomotor activity and did not induce stereotypy or catalepsy.

S(+)Apomorphines. Selective inhibition of excitatory effects of dopamine injected into the limbic system of the rat.

Dopamine (DA) injected unilaterally into the corpus striatum of the brain of the rat after pretreatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, induced contralateral deviation of the head (ED50 = 23 micrograms). Dopamine, administered similarly into the nucleus accumbens septi, induced strong locomotor arousal effects (ED50 = 32 micrograms), as reported by others. Systemic administration of the S(+) isomers of apomorphine (APO) and its N-n-propyl analog (NPA) had no significant action on the effects on posture of DA given intrastriatally, even in large doses.

Prolonged antidopaminergic actions of single doses of butyrophenones in the rat.

Rats were treated once with doses of haloperidol or of droperidol below and above the acute ID50 vs the dopamine agonist apomorphine; they were later challenged with an acute dose of apomorphine (0.3 mg/kg, SC) and rated for stereotyped behavioral responses. The two neuroleptics were similar in acute anti-apomorphine potency (ID50 = 0.

Beta-adrenergic blockade. An update.

beta-Adrenergic blockade represents a major pharmacologic advance. These drugs bind to membrane adrenergic receptors interfering with the effects of endogenous catecholamines. Eight beta-blockers are available in the United States, and others are being studied.

Binding of [3H]apomorphine to an aporphine binding site as well as to dopamine sites in tissue from bovine caudate nucleus.

Binding of the tritiated dopamine (DA) agonists, apomorphine (APO) and a dihydroxyaminotetralin (ADTN) to a membrane preparation from the caudate nucleus of calf brain was compared. Binding of [3H]dihydroxyaminotetralin at small (nM) concentrations followed simple, monophasic inhibition (over 80% at less than 500 nM) by concentrations of apomorphine between 50 pM and 1 mM. Inhibition of the binding of [3H]apomorphine by dihydroxyaminotetralin was more complex, and included in component with a low (microM) affinity for dihydroxyaminotetralin accounting for approx.

Effect of age on behavioral responses and tissue levels of apomorphine in the rat.

Rats of several ages between 2 and 24 months were tested for stereotyped behavioral responses to R(-)apomorphine-HCl (APO), a potent and selective dopamine agonist. Between 2 and 24 months, the ED50 for apomorphine decreased 2.5-fold (0.

Olfactory and vomeronasal system mediation of maternal recognition in the developing rat.

Olfactory-mediated arousal and maternal recognition were evaluated in neonatal rat pups. Non-nutritionally deprived pups which underwent bilateral olfactory bulbectomies on day 5, failed to distinguish between the ventral and dorsal surfaces of a nursing rat and a heating pad. They showed virtually no arousal response to any of these surfaces.

Dopaminergic but not noradrenergic mediation of hyperactivity and performance deficits in the developing rat pup.

The relative contribution of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in behavioral arousal was examined in developing rat pups using intracisternal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) either alone or following pretreatment with desmethylimipramine (DMI). Such treatments were designed to examine the effects of preferential reduction of DA (DA depletion), NE (NE depletion), or both catecholamines (CA depletion) in the development of motor activity and escape performance. General motor activity increased with age and, over all ages, DA-depleted pups tended to exhibit greater activity.

Differential effects of selective dopamine, norepinephrine or catecholamine depletion on activity and learning in the developing rat.

The present experiment investigated the behavioral changes which occurred following neonatal depletion of central catecholamine systems in the rat. The behavioral effects which resulted from selective dopamine (DA) depletion were compared with those resulting from selective norepinephrine (NE) depletion as well as depletion of both catecholamines (CA). Neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was administered intracisternally at 5 days of age following pretreatment with desmethylimipramine in order to selectively deplete DA.

The effect of intranasal zinc sulfate treatment on odor-mediated behavior and on odor-induced metabolic activity in the olfactory bulbs of neonatal rats.

This study describes the effect of lesions of the peripheral olfactory receptor sheet on odor-mediated behavior and on odor-induced metabolic activity in the neonatal olfactory bulb. Nine-day-old rats were treated by intranasal irrigation with a solution of 1% ZnSO4 or 5% ZnSO4 or saline. At 1 and 5 days following treatment they were tested for maternally-directed behaviors which are mediated in large part by olfactory cues.

Effects of apomorphine on appetitive conditioning in 6-hydroxydopamine treated rat pups.

Rat pups were treated on postnatal day 5 either with the combination of desmethylimipramine (DMI) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to produce depletion of brain dopamine, or with control injections of saline. Two days later they were presented a novel anise odor paired with intraoral baby formula, and on the next day were tested for preference for the novel odor. Before conditioning and testing, animals were treated with either apomorphine (0.

Effects of bromocriptine in developing rat pups after 6-hydroxydopamine.

The effects of low (0.5 mg/kg) and high (2.0 mg/kg) doses of bromocriptine (BCR) on activity and escape performance were examined during the first month of postnatal life in normal developing rat pups and littermates treated at 5 days of age with a combination of desmethylimipramine and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA).

Differential effects of maternal and sibling presence of hyperactivity of 6-hydroxydopamine-treated developing rats.

The influence of test environment on the expression of hyperactivity produced by neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) administration was assessed in rat pups at 15, 19, and 22 days of age. The 6-OHDA pups and an equal number of controls were tested in one of five different social circumstances: (a) isolation, (b) mixed groupings of two treated and two control pups, (c) mixed groupings with their anesthetized mothers, (d) mixed groupings with an anesthetized sibling, and (e) homogeneous groupings of all treated and all control siblings. Social factors had striking differential effects on activity, particularly at 19 days of age.

Suckling.

Suckling is the only behavior that is common among mammals. In newborn albino rats it is originally elicited by amniotic fluid deposited by the mother during parturition. Subsequent suckling is stimulated by saliva deposited on the nipples by the infant rats.

Environmental influences on body weight and behavior in developing rats after neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine.

There is less hyperactive motor activity and better avoidance performance in rat pups treated with 6-hydroxydopamine as neonates and reared with vehicle-treated littermates than in pups reared in litters composed solely of other 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals. Thus, in this experimental model of hyperactivity, an environmental manipulation provides an alternative to pharmacologic agents in reducing activity and improving learning performance.

Sensory determinants of suckling behavior in weanling rats.

Exteroceptive determinants of nipple attachment in albino rat pups were studied by altering maternal sensory features. Rats 15, 20, 25, and 30 days of age were permitted to locate and attach to the nipples of their anesthetized mother after she had received one of the following treatments: (a) thermalnipple and peripheral skin temperatures were lowered to either 31 or 28 degrees C, (b) tactile--the mother's ventrum was shaved clean; (c) thermotactile--the mother was shaved, and her peripheral temperature was lowered to 31 degrees C; and (d) olfactory--all nipples were thoroughly cleaned with methylene chloride and ethanol solvents. Only the nipple-wash treatment consistently affected nipple attachment.

Ontogeny of ultradian and nocturnal activity rhythms in the isolated albino rat.

The activity of isolated rats from 6 to 25 days of age was analyzed at 10-min intervals. Ultradian peak activity rhythms, with a rough 1-2-hr periodicity, developed between 9 and 12 days of age, and reached an extreme at 15 days. Ultradian periods of attenuated activity were however detectable even in 6-day-olds.