title: Dopaminergic transmission and (+)amphetamine-induced lethality in aggregated mice.
abstract: In aggregated mice the lethal dose 50% (LD50) of (+)amphetamine was found to be clearly lower than in isolated animals (dose ratio: 6:1), whereas with the pure dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12783, the ratio was only 2. Pretreatment of mice with GBR 12783 (20 or 40 mg/kg ip) did not reduce the lethality of (+)amphetamine (10 mg/kg) in aggregated mice. Taking into account their relative affinity for D1 and D2 dopamine receptors, various DA antagonists were opposed to (+)amphetamine (20 mg/kg) in aggregated mice. The specific D1 antagonist SCH 23390 was especially effective (ID50 10 micrograms/kg). The specific D2 antagonists (+/-) sulpiride and metoclopramide were effective for high doses (ID50 = 43 and 19 mg/kg respectively). The dopamine antagonists haloperidol and alpha-flupenthixol, less specific as regards D1 vs D2 receptors, had an ID50 of 66 and 186 micrograms/kg respectively. Association of the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 with the D2 antagonist (+/-) sulpiride resulted in an apparent additive effect for reducing the (+)amphetamine-induced lethality. A semi-chronic treatment with either the D1 agonist SKF 38393 (7 x 20 mg/kg) or (+)amphetamine (6 x 10 mg/kg) performed in isolated mice did not reduce the lethality induced by (+)amphetamine (20 mg/kg) in aggregated mice. The antagonism of the (+)amphetamine-induced lethality in aggregated mice, frequently used to screen meuroleptics, reveals their antagonistic activity towards D1 or D2 dopamine receptor types.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Neuropsychopharmacologie Expérimentale, URA 1170 du CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duterte-Boucher
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duhamel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costentin
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D000661:Amphetamine; D004298:Dopamine