title: Stimulant activities of dimethocaine in mice: reinforcing and anxiogenic effects.
abstract: The present study evaluated the effects of dimethocaine and procaine, esteratic local anesthetics, on locomotor activity, conditioned place preference and on the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety in mice, behavioral tests believed to be sensitive to cocaine action. Acute administration of dimethocaine (10-40 mg/kg, IP) significantly increased locomotor activity and time spent on the drug-paired side and reduced the relative number of entries and time spent on the open arms of the plus-maze in mice. Procaine (20-50 mg/kg, IP) failed to affect these responses. These data demonstrate the locomotor stimulant, reinforcing and anxiogenic actions of dimethocaine similar to those reported for cocaine in animals. In addition, these findings support a role for dopaminergic activity, rather than local anesthetic action, in the behavioral effects caused by dimethocaine.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rigon
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D062365:Aminobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011343:Procaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D062365:Aminobenzoates; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D011412:Propanolamines; D011343:Procaine; C066888:dimethocaine