[Behavioral pharmacological properties of nicergoline. Effects on gross-behavior in rats and monkeys and on DRL response, CER, and CAR in rats].
Whether nicergoline has psychotropic-like pharmacological properties was examined through the gross-behavioral and operant behavioral observations in rats and monkeys. In gross-behavioral observations, slight decrement of spontaneous motor activity, lying on the abdomen and relaxation of abdominal tone were observed in rats when nicergoline was administered intravenously (1 mg/kg or more) and intraperitoneally (4 mg/kg or more). However, when it was administered orally, slight decrement of spontaneous motor activity was observed only at large doses of 32 and 128 mg/kg. In monkeys, nicergoline produced decrement of spontaneous motor activity, palpebral ptosis, and lacrimation when administered intraperitoneally at doses of 1 mg/kg or more. Under a differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) schedule for food reinforcement in rats, nicergoline depressed the response at 4 mg/kg, i.p., or 128 mg/kg, orally. In conditioned emotional response (CER), nicergoline had no effect on the responses during both the alarm and safe periods at doses of 0.25, 1, and 4 mg/kg, i.p., or 8, 32, and 128 mg/kg, p.o. In Sidman continuous avoidance response (CAR), nicergoline (0.25, 1, and 4 mg/kg, i.p., or 8, 32, and 128 mg/kg, p.o.) slightly depressed the response and increased the total shock. These results were compared with those of chlorpromazine, chlordiazepoxide, pentobarbital, and methamphetamine and the following conclusion was drawn: Inhibitory effects of nicergoline on gross and operant behaviors seem to be non-specific, and its behavioral pharmacological properties are qualitatively different from those of anti-psychotics, anti-anxietics, hypnotics, and stimulants.
Yamamura
M
M
Maeda
K
K
Nakagawa
H
H
Ishida
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004873:Ergolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D009530:Nicergoline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004873:Ergolines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D009530:Nicergoline