Hypersensitivity to central serotonin receptor activation in scrapie-infected hamsters and the effect of serotonergic drugs on scrapie symptoms.
Low doses of the serotonin agonist, quipazine, and the serotonin precursor, L-5-hydroxytryptophan methyl ester, produce small but significant reductions in scrapie-induced ataxia and action jerks in hamsters. Higher doses of both drugs elicit a behavioral syndrome specific for central serotonin receptor activation. Scrapie-infected hamsters show a dramatic hypersensitivity to both drugs compared to control animals. This suggests that scrapie infection in hamsters causes a disturbance in the serotonergic pathway of the brain stem.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011814:Quipazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012756:Sheep
D011804:Quinolines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D011814:Quipazine; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan