Abstract
Five ergot-related compounds were examined for their effects on the acoustic startle response in the rat. The startle amplitude and the startle latency were registered. 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT; 0.5–8 mg/kg) and lisuride (0.05–0.8 mg/kg) were found to enhance the startle amplitude, while the mainly DA receptor active ergot derivatives pergolide (0.2–0.8 mg/kg), bromocriptine (5–20 mg/kg) and LY 141865 (5–20 mg/kg) had no, or even the reverse, effect. All five compounds caused a prolongation of the startle latency. The increased startle amplitude caused by 8-OH-DPAT (2 mg/kg) and lisuride (0.2 mg/kg) was successfully antagonized by the 5-HT receptor antagonist methiothepin (0.1 mg/kg) but not by metergoline (1 mg/kg). 5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (L-5-HTP; 12.5–50 mg/kg), administered to pargyline- and benserazide-pretreated animals, was included for comparison. The serotonin precursor caused a marked increase in the startle amplitude and a shortening of the startle latency.
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Svensson, L. Effects of 8-OH-DPAT, Lisuride and some ergot-related compounds on the acoustic startle response in the rat. Psychopharmacology 85, 469–475 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429667
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429667