title: Valproate- and aminophylline-induced 'wet dog shakes'--a function of dose and time.
abstract: The time course of appearance of 'wet dot shakes' (WDS) was examined following valproic acid (VPA, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg/kg i.p.) and aminophylline (AMP, 50, 100, 150 mg/kg i.p.) injections. VPA and AMP at various doses showed a qualitative difference in their ability to induce WDS with no difference in intensity, confirming 'all or none' nature of the phenomenon. There was a significant (p<0.001), dose-dependent increase in the number of whole body shakes following first three doses of VPA but not after the administration of its highest dose (400 mg/kg). In contrast, the numbers of WDS produced by AMP were inversely proportional to its increasing doses. The maximum numbers of WDS were observed at 300 mg/kg of VPA and 50 mg/kg of AMP, within 10 min and 20-30 min during 1 h and 1 h 30 min observation period, respectively. The present stereotyped behavior induced by acute, single dose administration of VPA and AMP in non-toxic doses, being a reproducible phenomenon, lasting for a brief period may be anticipated to serve as a tool to explore mechanisms underlying WDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kullu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
mesh_terms: D000628:Aminophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018682:GABA Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D000628:Aminophylline; D014635:Valproic Acid