title: Assessment of 8-OH-DPAT induced spontaneous tailflicks as an in vivo model of 5-HT1A function in young rats.
abstract: Spontaneous tailflicks, measured as elevation of the tail above the body axis in restrained animals, have been studied in both adult and young rats. The selective 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), induced dose-related increases in spontaneous tailflicks in adult (> 60 days) male rats. These responses were antagonised by the 5-HT1A antagonists (-)-propranolol and (-)-pindolol. 8-OH-DPAT (1 mg/kg) induced tailflicks could be observed in 30, 25 and 20 day old male rats and were also antagonised by (-)-propranolol and (-)-pindolol although drug-induced rotation of the 20 and 25 day old animals hindered assessment. At 14 and 10 days, 8-OH-DPAT (1 mg/kg) produced Straub tail responses which precluded the observation of tailflicks. Lower doses of 8-OH-DPAT, which did not elicit Straub tail in these younger animals also failed to produce tailflicks. Thus 8-OH-DPAT induced spontaneous tailflicks reflect in vivo activation of 5-HT1A receptors in adult and 30 day old male rats but are inappropriate for the study of 5-HT1A mediated behaviour in younger animals.
authors.affiliation: Receptors and Cellular Regulation Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D010869:Pindolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013623:Tail
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D011433:Propranolol; D010869:Pindolol