[Facilitation of a stereotyped motor behavior (climbing behavior) by previous stimulation of dopaminergic receptors: hyposensitivity of autoreceptors?]

Abstract

The sensitivity of dopamine receptors in Mouse striatum has been evaluated both behaviourally (responsiveness to apomorphine as regarviour) and biochemically (striatal level of homovanillic acid and its decrease induced by apomorphine) After a single administration of apomorphine (0.25 mg.kg-1 or 5 mg.kg-1) or piribedil, another dopamine agonist, a state of "behavioural facilitation" develops which differs from the state of hypersensitivity following blockade. This state of facilitation is characterized by a lower threshold dose of apomorphine eliciting the stereotyped behaviour, without modification of the response to higher doses. In contrast with the state of hypersensitivity, the level of homovanillic acid is not modified and the decrease of this level by a low dose of apomorphine is less important. The hypothesis is put forward that "behavioural facilitation" results from the hyposensitivity of a class of dopamine receptors, possibly autoreceptors, mediating an impaired activity of dopaminergic neurons and, consequently, inhibitory behavioural effects.