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Radial-arm maze performance in rats is impaired by a combination of nicotinic-cholinergic and D2 dopaminergic antagonist drugs.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McGurk, SR; Levin, ED; Butcher, LL
Published in: Psychopharmacology (Berl)
1989

Performance on the radial-arm maze depends on the integrity of both cholinergic and dopaminergic systems. We have previously found that administration of either the nicotinic-cholinergic antagonist, mecamylamine, or the muscarinic-cholinergic antagonist, scopolamine, impairs choice accuracy in the radial-arm maze. Co-administration of the dopaminergic antagonist, haloperidol, ameliorated the performance deficit caused by scopolamine but exacerbated the deficit caused by mecamylamine. Furthermore, antagonism of the effect of scopolamine is due specifically to blockade of D1 receptors. In the present experiment behaviorally subthreshold doses of mecamylamine and the D2 antagonist raclopride impaired maze performance when administered together. No interactive effects were observed between mecamylamine and the D1 antagonist SCH 23390. Although several of the drug treatments studied significantly increased choice latency, an index of motor behavior, there was no perfect relationship between choice accuracy and choice latency. These data indicate that nicotinic-cholinergic and muscarinic-cholinergic systems interact selectively and differentially with D1 and D2 dopaminergic systems.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

1989

Volume

99

Issue

3

Start / End Page

371 / 373

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Scopolamine
  • Salicylamides
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Rats
  • Raclopride
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Psychiatry
  • Parasympathomimetics
  • Mecamylamine
  • Haloperidol
 

Citation

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McGurk, S. R., Levin, E. D., & Butcher, L. L. (1989). Radial-arm maze performance in rats is impaired by a combination of nicotinic-cholinergic and D2 dopaminergic antagonist drugs. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 99(3), 371–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445560
McGurk, S. R., E. D. Levin, and L. L. Butcher. “Radial-arm maze performance in rats is impaired by a combination of nicotinic-cholinergic and D2 dopaminergic antagonist drugs.Psychopharmacology (Berl) 99, no. 3 (1989): 371–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445560.
McGurk, S. R., et al. “Radial-arm maze performance in rats is impaired by a combination of nicotinic-cholinergic and D2 dopaminergic antagonist drugs.Psychopharmacology (Berl), vol. 99, no. 3, 1989, pp. 371–73. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/BF00445560.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

1989

Volume

99

Issue

3

Start / End Page

371 / 373

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Scopolamine
  • Salicylamides
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Rats
  • Raclopride
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Psychiatry
  • Parasympathomimetics
  • Mecamylamine
  • Haloperidol