[Antagonism between L-DOPA and apomorphine in their effects on rat behavior]

Abstract

The effect of simultaneous injections of apomorphine and l-DOPA on stereotypy, aggressiveness, on the exploratory motor activity, the threshold of emotional reactivity and aggressiveness elicited by painful electrical stimulation was studied in experiments on male albino rats. When injected separately, in control experiments, both compounds had similar effects on the exploratory-motor activity and the emotional behaviour, but when injected simultaneously in various doses a distinct antagonism between l-DOPA and apomorphine, according to all the behaviour tests, was noted (a decrease of sterotypy, aggressiveness and emotional reactivity). Against the background of l-DOPA apomorphine (5 mg/kg) increased the dopamine content in the forebrain and in the diencephalon even more. It is suggested that the increased level of the functionally active mediator suppressed the activity of postsynaptic receptors sensitive to it.