Circling behavior following systemic d-amphetamine administration: potential noradrenergic and dopaminergic involvement

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1979 Jun 28;64(1):45-54. doi: 10.1007/BF00427344.

Abstract

Systemic treatment with d-amphetamine produced a dose-dependent increase in the circling behavior of normal mice. Treatment with both alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MpT) and FLA-63 antagonized the amphetamine-induced circling behavior. Similarly, blockade of B-adrenergic receptors by propranolol and dopamine receptors by haloperidol reversed the circling response elicited by amphetamine. In contrast to alpha-MpT and haloperidol, however, neither FLA-63 nor propranolol attenuated the locomotor excitation engendered by amphetamine. Following repeated d-amphetamine injections the circling ordinarily induced by a single injection was abolished, whereas the locomotor effects of amphetamine remained unaltered. These findings are consistent with earlier work suggesting that tolerance may occur in those behaviors that involve a noradrenergic component.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior / drug effects*
  • Bis(4-Methyl-1-Homopiperazinylthiocarbonyl)disulfide / pharmacology
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects
  • Dextroamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine / physiology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Tolerance
  • Haloperidol / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methyltyrosines / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Norepinephrine / metabolism
  • Norepinephrine / physiology*
  • Propranolol / pharmacology
  • Stereotyped Behavior / drug effects*
  • Stereotyped Behavior / physiology

Substances

  • Methyltyrosines
  • Bis(4-Methyl-1-Homopiperazinylthiocarbonyl)disulfide
  • Propranolol
  • Haloperidol
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine