Rhythmic jaw movements induced by ethanol in rats.
Intraperitoneal administration of an anaesthetic dose of ethanol, 3.0 mg/kg, produced rapid rhythmic jaw movements (RJM) in rats. The peak effect (90 RJM/min.) occurred after 5 min., and all movements ceased after about 15 min. Clozapine, (4.4 mg/kg intraperitoneally) completely abolished this RJM phenomenon, whereas halopridol (0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally), apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg subcutaneously) and atropine (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) reduced it. It is suggested that the postulated brain stem masticatory pattern generator is activated or released from inhibition during induction of ethanol anaesthesia. Apparently this masticatory movement pacemaker is amenable to pharmacological manipulation, as shown by the present experiments.
Andersson
U
U
Psychiatric Research Center, Uppsala, Sweden.
Lewander
T
T
Gunne
L M
LM
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D000431:Ethanol; D001285:Atropine; D001058:Apomorphine