title: Chronic methylxanthine treatment in rats: a comparison of Wistar and Fischer 344 strains.
abstract: Caffeine, theophylline or aminophylline were administered chronically to rats of both sexes, in the weight range 30-245 g. Self-injurious behaviour was noted only rarely in Wistar rats allowed free access to food, but developed over 3 to 4 weeks in half of the animals given a restricted diet of about one third of the intake of control rats. Fischer rats showed self-injurious behaviour more readily, 87% of animals showing signs within 9 days even on an ad lib diet. It is suggested that Fischer rats treated with methylxanthines may provide a model of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Behavioural observations made during the period of methylxanthine treatment suggest that an activation of both the dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine neurone systems may be produced. Further work will seek a relationship between these systems and self-injurious behaviour.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D014970:Xanthines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014970:Xanthines; D000628:Aminophylline; D002110:Caffeine; D013806:Theophylline