Central muscarinic activation elicits compulsive drinking behaviour in the rat

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Injection of bethanechol into the lateral cerebral ventricle of the rat induces a marked increase in drinking, within 30 min from administration. The response is dose-related, maximal water intake (6.1 ± 0.55 mL; mean ± s.e.) occurring at 10 μg of bethanechol. Peripheral administration of the agonist (up to 3 mg kg−1 i.p.) fails to elicit drinking. Among several specific antagonists only anti-muscarinic drugs produced a significant inhibition of the response, suggesting that the compulsive drinking behaviour in the rat is caused by activation of central muscarinic receptors. The drinking behaviour emerges as a reliable test to assess central muscarinic activity of both agonists and antagonists.