Abstract
Grooming behaviour induced by exposure to a novel environment was studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, and the dopamine D2 receptor agonist, quinpirole, were used to study brain dopamine systems in these rat strains, via their effects on grooming behaviour. The total grooming behaviour displayed in a 50-min observation period was significantly lower in SHR than in WKY. Except for the paw licking component no differences between the two strains were observed in the separate behavioural elements of grooming behaviour. SCH 23390 and quinpirole were found to suppress novelty-induced grooming behaviour of both strains. In SHR, grooming behaviour was less suppressed by SCH 23390, whereas the suppression by quinpirole was more pronounced than in WKY. These results indicate that there are alterations in central dopamine systems in SHR, probably involving changes both in dopamine D1 and D2 receptor mechanisms in the brain.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 23-8 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | European Journal of Pharmacology |
| Volume | 219 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 14 Aug 1992 |
Keywords
- Rats
- Animals
- Rats, Inbred WKY
- Rats, Inbred SHR
- Dopamine
- Grooming
- Ergolines
- Benzazepines
- Motor Activity
- Quinpirole
- Male
- Hypertension