title: Bombesin-induced grooming in the golden hamster.
abstract: Lateral cerebroventricular injection of the peptide bombesin (0.01-1.0 micrograms) promptly elicited excessive grooming and scratching behaviors in home-caged male and female golden hamsters. Bombesin-induced grooming persisted throughout a 60-min observation period at doses of 0.1-1.0 micrograms. Grooming with forepaws and mouth was more consistently increased than hindleg scratching behaviors. Dependence of this neuropeptide effect on grooming on muscarinic cholinergic activity was assessed by injecting scopolamine (0.001-1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 15 min prior to 0.1 microgram bombesin. Excessive grooming induced by centrally administered bombesin was abolished by 0.1 and 1 mg/kg scopolamine, although basal level of grooming was not significantly affected. The findings indicate a cross-species generality of the dependence of bombesin-induced grooming on muscarinic cholinergic activity, and species-specific differences among rodents in the components of excessive grooming elicited by bombesin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo 81001.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kulkosky
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Foderaro
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Glazner
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Niichel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schnur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001839:Bombesin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D012601:Scopolamine; D001839:Bombesin