title: Dexamethasone modifies the behavioral effects induced by clonidine in mice.
abstract: The present study examines the influence of dexamethasone on behavioral effects induced by clonidine in mice. 2. The behavior elements considered were locomoter activity, rota rod, catalepsy and stereotyped behavior (rearing, grooming, social response test, crossing, smelling, washing face, scratching and bar holding). 3. Clonidine (0.1-0.5-1.0 mg/kg, IP) induced a significant reduction of all behavioral elements studied when compared to the saline treated group: the behavioral reduction was significant 10 min after administration and lasted for the entire recording period (120 min). 4. Dexamethasone (0.1-0.5-1.0 mg/kg, IP) per se did not induce significant changes in the behavior elements recorded. 5. Dexamethasone (0.1-0.5 mg/kg, IP) dod not affect behavioral effects induced by the 3 doses of clonidine, whereas the high dose (1 mg/kg) of the steroid significantly reduced its behavioral inhibition. 6. The results of the present study suggest that dexamethasone induces significant effects on clonidine-induced behavioral effects and that this may be related to an interference with the monoaminergic system.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Giannuario
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loizzo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pieretti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003000:Clonidine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003000:Clonidine