Abstract
The dose-response relationship for apomorphine-induced stereotypy in dogs is presented. A minimum effective dose is 0.2 mg/kg i.v., but the fully developed syndrome requires 0.8 mg/kg i.v. The stereotyped behaviour following the supramaximal dose 1.6 mg/kg i.v., mainly consisting in an incessant running activity, is described in detail.
Antipsychotic neuroleptics were highly active inhibitors of the apomorphinestereotypy, whereas phenoxybenzamine, amitriptyline, anticholinergics, antihistaminics, metoclopramide and diazepam were without influence on the stereotypy. H 44/68 (α-methyltyrosine-methylester) potentiated the syndrome. In provoking stereotyped behaviour in the dog, apomorphine, as in other species, probably acts directly on dopamine receptors in the corpus striatum.
Accordingly two sites of action for apomorphine may exist in the dog, the trigger zone in the area postrema for emesis, and the neostriatum for stereotypy.
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Nymark, M. Apomorphine provoked stereotypy in the dog. Psychopharmacologia 26, 361–368 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421901
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421901