title: An aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor blocks L-dopa-induced air-stepping in neonatal rats.
abstract: Rat pups suspended in air and administered L-DOPA engage in a locomotor behavior termed air-stepping. The role of L-DOPA itself was investigated by administering several doses of an aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, NSD 1015, prior to 100 mg/kg L-DOPA to 5-day-old rats. NSD 1015 dose-dependently increased the latency to onset and decreased the duration of L-DOPA-induced air-stepping. Thus L-DOPA induces air-stepping only after its conversion to dopamine and/or noradrenaline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611-2250, USA.
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Arnaiz
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stehouwer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Hartesveldt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D065105:Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D065105:Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006834:Hydrazines; D007980:Levodopa; C004297:3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine