The maturational onset of the 5-HT mediated head twitch in mice.
The effect of elevated brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) on the head twitch was examined to determine an age of onset in mice for this 5-HT mediated motor activity. Two different treatments were used to elevate 5-HT: 100 mg/kg L-tryptophan with 100 mg/kg pargyline; and 100 mg/kg 5-HTP with 25 mg/kg carbidopa. Mice from ages 14 to 42 days postpartum were examined. Both treatments showed an onset of the head twitch at 15 days. Juvenile mice of 15-18 days appeared to differ in their response to the two treatments. Although 5-HTP and carbidopa stimulated head twitches, 5-HTP alone had a greater stimulatory effect at these ages, while in the other experiment only those animals receiving the combined tryptophan and pargyline treatment showed significant responses.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology
D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D010293:Pargyline; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D002230:Carbidopa