The NK-3 tachykinin agonist senktide elicits yawning and chewing mouth movements following subcutaneous administration in the rat. Evidence for cholinergic mediation.
The selective NK-3 tachykinin receptor agonist senktide elicited yawning, chewing mouth movements and sexual arousal following subcutaneous administration (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) in the rat. These responses were not significantly affected by the dopamine antagonist haloperidol (0.03 mg/kg) or by 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal projection. In contrast, the behaviours were markedly attenuated by the peripheral and central muscarinic antagonist scopolamine (1 mg/kg), but not by the peripheral muscarinic antagonist N-methylscopolamine (1 mg/kg). These findings suggest that stimulation of NK-3 receptors produces yawning, chewing and sexual arousal by directly activating central cholinergic neurons.
Stoessl
A J
AJ
Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Neuroscience Research Centre, Harlow, Essex, UK.
Dourish
C T
CT
Iversen
S D
SD
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D016627:Oxidopamine; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000502:physiology*; D018039:Receptors, Tachykinin; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013373:Substance P / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015000:Yawning / Q000187:drug effects*
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D018039:Receptors, Tachykinin; C054724:senktide; D013373:Substance P; D016627:Oxidopamine; D012601:Scopolamine; D006220:Haloperidol