Differential effects produced by an anticholinergic on the neuroleptic inhibition of motor behaviour and self-stimulation of the prefrontal cortex in the rat.
A specific dopamine receptor blocker, spiroperidol (0.016, 0.032, 0.064 and 0.128 mg/kg) alone or in combined treatment with the centrally acting anticholinergic, dexetimide (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally to rats pressing a lever for brain self-stimulation through electrodes implanted in the medial prefrontal cortex. The same treatment was also given to rats in which the spontaneous motor behaviour was measured. Spiroperidol produced a dose-related inhibtion of both self-stimulation and spontaneous motor activity. Dexetimide, given to spiroperidol treated rats, was able to antagonize the motor impairment produced by spiroperidol, but prefrontal cortex self-stimulation remained decreased. These data support the suggested role for dopamine in self-stimulation of the prefrontal cortex in the rat.
D000818:Animals; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003909:Dexetimide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013134:Spiperone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002090:Butyrophenones; D010880:Piperidines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D003909:Dexetimide; D013134:Spiperone