Drug-induced stereotypes and asymmetric behaviour after substantia nigra pars posterior (SNPP) lesions in cats.
Apomorphine- (Apo) and amphetamine- (Amph) induced behavioural phenomena were studied in cats which received either 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or electrothermic lesions of the posterior part of the substantia nigra (SNPP). In this species, as in rats, both drugs evoked sterotypies (sniffing and head nodding) and an enhancement of locomotor activity. However, distinct differences between the reactions of cats and rats to both drugs were found, the most evident effect being the lack of sterotyped gnawing and licking. By correlating the data on behaviour, the histological examination showing the size and location of the lesions, and the dopamine (DA) content of the corresponding caudate nuclei, it is concluded that the fewer DA-specific neurons lesioned in the SNPP, the more pronounced was the ipsilateral asymmetric behaviour. We suggest, therefore, that the ipsilateral asymmetric behaviour in cats following APO- and AMPH-treatment is due to the destruction of a non-catecholaminergic output.
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002415:Cats; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D001058:Apomorphine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine