The effect of electroconvulsive shock seizures on behaviour induced by dopaminergic agonists and on immobility in the Porsolt test.
Male, Wistar rats were given a course of eight electroconvulsive shock seizures (ECS group) or matched handling (control group). They were then tested for locomotion and rearing (7 days post-ECS), for grooming and yawning (9 days post-ECS), and for immobility in the Porsolt test (7, 14 and 21 days post-ECS). Seven days post-seizure, the ECS group showed significantly more locomotion following intraperitoneal administration of apomorphine (0.2 mg/kg), but not following injections of amphetamine (1 mg/kg). Drug-induced rearing was not different in the ECS and control animals. Nine days post-seizure, the ECS group showed significantly more grooming induced by the D-1 dopamine receptor agonist, SKF 38393 (1 mg/kg), but no difference in the yawning induced by the D-2 dopamine receptor agonist, quinpirole (0.05 mg/kg). In the Porsolt test, immobility was decreased in the ECS animals at 7 and 14, but not at 21 days post-ECS. It is concluded that ECS increases activity in the dopaminergic systems of the rat brain for at least 1-2 weeks post-seizure. The beneficial effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may relate to these dopaminergic alterations.
Zarrindast
Mohammad-Reza
MR
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran. zarinmr@ams.ac.ir
Sahebgharani
Mousa
M
Burnham
W McIntyre
WM
D015647:2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004597:Electroshock; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D019257:Quinpirole / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000187:drug effects; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000523:psychology*; D015000:Yawning / Q000187:drug effects
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D019257:Quinpirole; D015647:2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine; D000661:Amphetamine; D001058:Apomorphine