Evidence for a noradrenergic mechanism in the grooming produced by (+)-amphetamine and 4, alpha-dimethyl-m-tyramine (H 77/77) in rats.
Rats were kept on a 12-h light-dark cycle. One hour after the light was switched on, physiological saline, (+)-amphetamine 1 mg/kg, and H 77/77 5 mg/kg were injected s.c.; the number of groomings was counted 1-2 h after the treatments. (+)-Amphetamine and H 77/77 produced increased grooming which was antagonized by the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor H 44/68 (250 mg/kg), the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor FLA 63 (40), the neuroleptics haloperidol (0.1 and 0.5), and clozapine (1 and 5). The (+)-amphetamine-induced grooming was also antagonized by the NA-receptor blocker aceperone (10) but not by the sedative phenothiazines mepazine (10) and diphenhydramine (20) nor diazepam (1). These results indicate that NA-release is involved in the mediation of (+)-amphetamine- and H 77/77-induced grooming. The inhibition of haloperidol and clozapine is presumably due to NA-receptor blockade.
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000494:pharmacology; D003024:Clozapine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D014439:Tyramine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002090:Butyrophenones; D010640:Phenothiazines; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D000661:Amphetamine; D003024:Clozapine; D006220:Haloperidol; D003975:Diazepam; D009638:Norepinephrine; D014439:Tyramine