NIGROSTRIATALLY INDUCED MOTOR RESPONSES IN RAT .1. ROTATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND POSTURE ASYMMETRY FOLLOWING INTRACEREBRAL INJECTIONS OF APOMORPHINE AND DOPAMINE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (6) , 773-780
Abstract
Using a rotameter, the influence of pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine and transections of the capsula interna on the asymmetry of the animal''s poise and movement following systemic and intracerebral administration of dopamine and apomorphine was studied. After lesion of the nigrostriatal tract, i.p. administered apomorphine caused the animals to rotate towards the damaged side. After injection of apomorphine in the nucleus [N.] caudatoputamen of healthy animals, initial rotations towards the injection side with subsequent opposite rotation were observed; dopamine injected into the N. caudatoputamen and the substantia nigra initiated rotations in contralateral direction only. Pretreatment with haloperidol nullified the effect of apomorphine. The effectiveness in the N. caudatoputamen and the substantia nigra of drugs stimulating the dopamine receptors was proved. With intact rats, the 2 sides of the nigrostriatal system were functionally asymmetric, which was reflected by the quantitative differences of responses following stimulation of dopamine-sensitive receptors and the individually different preference of 1 rotational direction. These individual behavioral patterns were modified by experimental influences.

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