Further evidence for the stimulation of rat brain dopamine receptors by ergometrine
Woodruff, G.N.; Elkhawad, A.O.; Crossman, A.R.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 26(6): 455-456
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3573 PMID: 4154992 Document Number: 74023
The substantia nigra of 8 rats was injected unilaterally with 6-hydroxydopamine hydrobromide (8 .mu.g). All animals responded to (+)-amphetamine (3 mg kg-1) by turning towards the side previously injected with 6-hydroxydopamine, indicating that unilateral degeneration of the nigro-neostriatal tract had taken place. Ergometrine maleate was injected i.p. in doses of 10, 25, 50 mg kg-1. Each animal responded to every injection of ergometrine by turning away from the side previously injected with 6-hydroxydopamine, i.e., towards the innervated side. The effect of ergometrine (10 mg kg-1) was completely abolished by haloperidol (1.0 mg kg-1), injected 30 min before the ergot alkaloid.