title: L-DOPA attenuates hyperactivity of Roborovskii hamsters.
abstract: The Roborovskii hamster (Phodopus roborovskii) has been shown to have high locomotor activity (hyperactivity) and low dopamine concentrations in the brain. We hypothesized that low brain dopamine concentrations play a role in the pathogenesis of hyperactivity. In this study, therefore, we investigated the effects of L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), the precursor of dopamine, on the locomotor activity of Roborovskii hamster to verify the above hypothesis. An open field test was employed to measure the locomotor activity. Administration of L-DOPA dose-dependently decreased locomotor activity including distance of path and time spent moving. L-DOPA increased the brain concentration of dopamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Concurrently, L-DOPA caused increase of norepinephrine, decrease of serotonin, and atypical alteration of their metabolite concentrations. These findings mainly suggest that in Roborovskii hamsters, a low level of brain dopamine neurotransmission is one of the reasons for hyperactivity, and hyperactivity can be attenuated by L-DOPA.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Advanced Animal and Marine Bioresources, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kabuki
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shigemi
authors.forename: Kousuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamasu
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furuse
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000378:metabolism; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine