title: Genetic differences in startle gating-disruptive effects of apomorphine: evidence for central mediation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla 92093-0804, USA. nswerdlow@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Neal R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
authors.forename: Jody M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shoemaker
authors.forename: Leia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pitcher
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Platten
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuczenski
authors.forename: Catharine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Eleey
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auerbach
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D001058:Apomorphine