Electroconvulsive shock and L-dopa reduce head-turning induced by electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus in the rat.
The effect of repeated electroconvulsive shock (ECS) and L-dopa on contralateral head-turning induced by electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus in rats was determined. Repeated ECS treatment consisting of a single daily ECS for 10 days was found to increase the number of caudate stimuli required to induce head-turning. As reported by others, oral L-dopa (250 mg/kg) was also found to antagonize the caudate stimulation-induced head-turning. The repeated ECS treatment had an additive effect with the 250 mg/kg L-dopa dose to increase the number of stimulations to induce the head-turn. These findings support previous reports that repeated ECS enhances dopamine-mediated behaviors as well as the theory that caudate stimulation-induced head-turning is mediated in part by dopaminergic mechanisms.
D000818:Animals; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004597:Electroshock; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D007980:Levodopa; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium