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Evidence for a noradrenergic mechanism in the grooming produced by (+)-amphetamine and 4,α-dimethyl-m-tyramine (H 77/77) in rats

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Abstract

Rats were kept on a 12-h light-dark cycle. One hour after the light was switched on, physiological saline, (+)-amphetamine 1 mg/kg, and H 77/77 5 mg/kg were injected s.c.; the number of groomings was counted 1–2h after the treatments. (+)-Amphetamine and H 77/77 produced increased grooming which was antagonized by the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor H 44/68 (250 mg/kg), the dopamine-β-hydroxylase inhibitor FLA 63 (40), the neuroleptics haloperidol (0.1 and 0.5), and clozapine (1 and 5). The (+)-amphetamine-induced grooming was also antagonized by the NA-receptor blocker aceperone (10) but not by the sedative phenothiazines mepazine (10) and diphenhydramine (20) nor diazepam (1).

These results indicate that NA-release is involved in the mediation of (+)-amphetamine- and H 77/77-induced grooming. The inhibition of haloperidol and clozapine is presumably due to NA-receptor blockade.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, A/S Ferrosan, Sydmarken 1-5, DK-2860, Soeborg, Denmark

    J. Buus Lassen

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Buus Lassen, J. Evidence for a noradrenergic mechanism in the grooming produced by (+)-amphetamine and 4,α-dimethyl-m-tyramine (H 77/77) in rats. Psychopharmacology 54, 153–157 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426772

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