Influence of phenoxybenzamine on the stereotyped behaviour induced by fencamfamine in rats: evidence for a qualitative alteration.
The interactions between norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) systems in mediating stereotyped behaviour induced by different doses of fencamfamine (1-30 mg/kg) were studied in male rats. Pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine (5.0 mg/kg) resulted in a significant leftward shift of the control curve for stereotypy. The qualitative analysis of the stereotyped behaviour parameters when compared to controls showed: higher rearing frequency at a dose of 3.0 mg/kg; lower locomotor activity at a dose of 6.0 mg/kg; higher licking and gnawing frequencies at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg. These findings indicate that the role of DA systems on the stereotyped behaviour induced by fencamfamine is dependent on the degree of NE transmission in the CNS.
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009636:Norbornanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D010643:Phenoxybenzamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*
D009636:Norbornanes; D010643:Phenoxybenzamine; C020900:fencamfamine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine