Apomorphine effects on behavioral response to ethanol in mice selectively bred for differential sensitivity to ethanol

Bruce C. Dudek, Michael E. Abbott, Ajay Garg, Tamara J. Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two lines of mice selectively bred for differences in response to a hypnotic dose of ethanol were administered apomorphine alone or in combination with ethanol. When administered by itself, apomorphine produced similar dose-dependent depression of locomotor activity and increases in stereotypy in the two lines. Doses of apomorphine (0.5 μM/kg and 2 μM/kg) thought to bind only presynaptic dopamine receptors blocked the slight locomotor activation to 1.5 g/kg ethanol in the ethanol-sensitive Long-Sleep (LS) mice; in the ethanol-insensitive Short-Sleep (SS) mice which show marked activation to all subhypnotic doses of ethanol, these doses of apomorphine only attenuated the activation. A higher apomorphine dose (8 μM/kg) antagonized the locomotor depressant effects of 2.0 and 2.5 g/kg of ethanol in LS mice but did not alter the shape of the SS ethanol dose response curve for locomotor activity. Apomorphine (2 and 8 μM/kg) potentiated ethanol-induced loss of the righting reflex in LS mice in a dose dependent fashion, but did not alter this soporific effect of ethanol in SS mice. These findings extend the data base suggesting a role for dopamine both in the mechanism(s) differentiating the LS and SS mice and the stimulant and intoxicating properties of ethanol.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-94
Number of pages4
JournalPharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1984
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Apomorphine
  • Dopamine
  • Ethanol
  • Genetics
  • Locomotor activity
  • Stereotypy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biological Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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