Genetic differences in startle gating-disruptive effects of apomorphine: evidence for central mediation.
Strain differences in sensitivity to dopamine agonist-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) may be a useful model for the genetics of PPI deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders. Compared with Long-Evans (LE) rats, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats are more sensitive to the PPI-disruptive effects of the DA agonist apomorphine. The authors tested the hypothesis that this strain difference reflects brain function rather than peripheral physiology. Significant SD > LE PPI-disruptive effects of apomorphine were observed despite equal apomorphine levels in SD and LE rats in forebrain regions that regulate PPI. SD > LE PPI-disruptive effects of apomorphine were also independent of peripheral versus central route of administration. This model for PPI genetics is sensitive to differences in central rather than peripheral substrates.
Swerdlow
Neal R
NR
Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla 92093-0804, USA. nswerdlow@ucsd.edu
Shoemaker
Jody M
JM
Pitcher
Leia
L
Platten
Amanda
A
Kuczenski
Ronald
R
Eleey
Catharine C
CC
Auerbach
Pamela
P
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011931:Reactive Inhibition; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D001058:Apomorphine