Abstract
Exploratory behavior of a complex novel environment was examined 3 and 14 days following treatment with the noradrenergic-selective neurotoxin, DSP-4. This toxin significantly decreased norepinephrine concentrations in neocortex and hippocampus but not hypothalamus. DSP-4 significantly increased exploratory behavior in animals tested 3 days after treatment. In contrast, exploratory behavior was decreased in animals tested 14 days after treatment. The effect of DSP-4 at 3 days is similar to treatments that act to inhibit noradrenergic function such as administration of the α1-antagonist, prazosin, or the α2-agonist, clonidine. The effect of DSP-4 at 14 days resembles that observed following treatment with the α1-agonist, phenylephrine, or the α2-antagonist, idazoxan. These data provide additional support for a role of noradrenergic systems in exploratory behavior. The simplest explanation for the time dependent effects of DSP-4 on exploratory behavior is the occurrence of the slow development of a supersensitivity of cerebral systems affected by norepinephrine.
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Berridge, C.W., Dunn, A.J. DSP-4-induced depletion of brain norepinephrine produces opposite effects on exploratory behavior 3 and 14 days after treatment. Psychopharmacology 100, 504–508 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244003