title: Spontaneous climbing behaviour of mice, its measurement and dopaminergic involvement.
abstract: Measurement of spontaneous climbing behaviour of mice, made in Mouse Climbing Monitors which used photocell detection of vertical movements, was most reliable and intense when made over a 40 min period using two mice per cage and taking readings before 2:00 p.m. The climbing response was antagonised by low doses of the neuroleptics (-)-sulpiride and spiroperidol, and by low doses of the dopamine agonists apomorphine, N-n-propylbenzo(f)quinoline, N-n-propylbenzo(g)quinoline and 2-di-n-propylamino-5,6-dihydroxytetralin; N,N-dipropyldopamine was less effective. Higher doses of the dopamine agonists induced climbing. The inhibition afforded by apomorphine was partially antagonised by (-)-sulpiride and spiroperidol (at doses which do not in themselves modify spontaneous climbing) but not by prazosin or yohimbine. Bilateral electrolesions of the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens or tuberculum olfactorium attenuated spontaneous climbing for the first 5-9 postoperative days, the accumbens lesions being most effective. Thus, spontaneous climbing behaviour of mice can be precisely quantified, dopamine-containing forebrain areas are involved with its expression and it can be potently modified by dopamine agonists and antagonists.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D013565:Sympatholytics; D001058:Apomorphine