Atropine stereotypy and its inhibition by intracaudate triperidol in the rat.
One component (rearing) of the stereotyped behavior of the rat was quantitated using erigometer, a new device developed in this laboratory. Intraperitoneal injection of atropine, but not methylatropine, caused dose-related stereotyped behavior in the rat and this effect was antagonized by intracaudate injection of triperidol in a dose-related manner. It is concluded that stereotypy can be evoked also in the case when the striatal dopaminergic tone is normal or even below normal: it is the equilibrium of the striatal cholinergic-dopaminergic systems which must be shifted towards dopamine, which is necessary for the development of this behavioral manifestation.
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D051381:Rats; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D014272:Trifluperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001285:Atropine; D014272:Trifluperidol