Abstract
3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a substance used for modelling Huntington's disease, was given to male Wistar rats in a single 20 mg/kg b.w. dose, and the resulting behavioral alterations in spontaneous locomotor activity were measured after 30 minutes. To detect the involvement of neurotransmitter systems in this immediate effect, the NMDA antagonist MK-801 (0.8 mg/kg); as well as an agonist, quinpirole (QP, 5 mg/kg) and an antagonist, sulpiride (SP, 80 mg/kg) of the dopamine D2 receptors, were given before 3-NP to separate groups of rats. Controls were given saline. All substances were injected ip. 3-NP decreased the rats' locomotor, especially vertical, activity, whereas local activity was increased. Based on the further changes of 3-NP effects in the combination groups it could be concluded that dopaminergic rather than glutamatergic mechanisms were possibly involved in the acute behavioral effect of 3-NP.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
-
Behavior, Animal / physiology
-
Disease Models, Animal
-
Dizocilpine Maleate / pharmacology
-
Dopamine Agents / pharmacology
-
Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists
-
Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / pharmacology
-
Huntington Disease / physiopathology
-
Male
-
Motor Activity / drug effects*
-
Motor Activity / physiology
-
N-Methylaspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
-
Nitro Compounds / pharmacology*
-
Propionates / pharmacology*
-
Quinpirole / pharmacology
-
Rats
-
Rats, Wistar
-
Receptors, Dopamine / drug effects*
-
Receptors, Dopamine / physiology
-
Receptors, Dopamine D2 / agonists
-
Receptors, Glutamate / drug effects*
-
Receptors, Glutamate / physiology
-
Sulpiride / pharmacology
Substances
-
Dopamine Agents
-
Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists
-
Excitatory Amino Acid Agents
-
Nitro Compounds
-
Propionates
-
Receptors, Dopamine
-
Receptors, Dopamine D2
-
Receptors, Glutamate
-
Quinpirole
-
N-Methylaspartate
-
Dizocilpine Maleate
-
Sulpiride
-
3-nitropropionic acid