Facilitation of self-stimulation of the prefrontal cortex in rats following chronic administration of spiroperidol or amphetamine.
The effect of chronic administration of spiroperidol, a dopaminergic antagonist, on self-stimulation of the prefrontal cortex was investigated. When spiroperidol was administered either before or after daily self-stimulation tests for 9 days, self-stimulation rates were significantly elevated for several weeks following withdrawal of the drug. Self-stimulation of the nucleus accumbens, supracallosal bundle, and other forebrain sites was not altered, suggesting that the increased self-stimulation of the prefrontal cortex was not due to increased motor activity. Self-stimulation of the prefrontal cortex was also facilitated by chronic administration of d-amphetamine whereas self-stimulation of the supracallosal bundle was suppressed and self stimulation of the nucleus accumbens was unchanged. The results suggest that dopamine modulates self-stimulation of the prefrontal cortex. Additionally, the effects of chronic spiroperidol on self-stimulation of this structure may model the therapeutic effects of neuroleptics in humans.
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013134:Spiperone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors
D002090:Butyrophenones; D013134:Spiperone; D000661:Amphetamine; D004298:Dopamine