title: Mechanism of central action of octopamine.
abstract: Octopamine (50-250 microgram ivc) activates both noradrenergic and dopaminergic system of the rat. In rats pretreated with reserpine or reserpine and FLA-63 the stimulatory action of octopamine was not inhibited, but even enhanced. Only selective destruction of dopamine containing neurons (6-hydroxydopamine, 200 microgram ivc, given 1 hr after desipramine, 25 mg/kg ip) prevents octopamine-induced hyperactivity. Octopamine depressed the noradrenaline level in the rat brain and increased utilization of the amine, but did not affect the level and utilization of dopamine.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D009655:Octopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D009655:Octopamine; D010293:Pargyline; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine