The hindlimb extension reflex is not a reliable marker of post-decapitation convulsions or spinal noradrenaline depletion in rats.
The degree of hindlimb extension reflex (ER), post-decapitation reflex (PDR) and noradrenaline (NA) depletion was measured under various treatment regimens involving the neurotoxins DSP4 and 6-OHDA. Neither neonatal 6-OHDA treatment, direct application of 6-OHDA to the locus coeruleus nor DSP4 treatment produced a blockade of ER that could be associated with the loss of PDR and the spinal NA depletion, whereas intrathecal 6-OHDA treatment caused a strong loss of both ER and PDR related to severe spinal NA depletion. No correlation was obtained between the ER and PDR in a large number of DSP4-treated rats.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006614:Hindlimb; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*
D001596:Benzylamines; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D016627:Oxidopamine; C012102:DSP 4; D009638:Norepinephrine