Circling behaviour induced by apomorphine after lesions of the habenula.
Apomorphine, 2 mg/kg (s.c.) produced significant contralateral turning in rats with unilateral radiofrequency lesions of the habenula nucleus over a test period of 60 min when tested at post-surgery days 3, 7, and 14. Levels of contralateral circling were not significantly increased when the animals were tested on days 21 and 28, although a contralateral bias was still observed. Rotation induced by apomorphine was completely blocked by the administration of haloperidol (0.3 mg/kg i.p.), and there was no behavioural asymmetry in lesioned animals following administration of saline or a high dose of haloperidol (2 mg/kg i.p.). These results indicate that unilateral habenula lesions lead to imbalance of dopaminergic activity, which is expressed as contralateral circling when the animal is challenged with apomorphine.
Wickens
A P
AP
Department of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
Thornton
E W
EW
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001058:Apomorphine