Behavioral aspects of GABAergic-dopaminergic interactions in the central nervous system.
GABAergic-dopaminergic relationships in rats were analysed quantitatively by means of behavioral studies. Acute and long-term haloperidol administration induced significant leftward displacement of the control dose-response curves for picrotoxin but not those for strychnine or 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA). Apomorphine given acutely increased the sensitivity of the animal to strychnine but not to picrotoxin or 3-MPA. In animals that presented convulsion a stereotyped gnawing and/or licking behavior was observed immediately after the ictus activity as a consequence of the combined acute administration of haloperidol and picrotoxin. Long-term haloperidol treatment increased the gnawing and/or licking behavior immediately before and/or after the ictus activity induced by picrotoxin (1 and 72 h after haloperidol withdrawal) or 3-MPA (72 h after withdrawal). A possible effect of the drugs employed on the DA-nigroamygdaloid and/or the GABA-striatonigral fiber systems is discussed.
Laboratory of Pharmacology Instituto Butantan, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brasil.
M R
MR
Sandoval
J
J
Palermo-Neto
D015097:3-Mercaptopropionic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
D015097:3-Mercaptopropionic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006220:Haloperidol; D010852:Picrotoxin; D013331:Strychnine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid