Abstract
We investigated whether pretreatment with the neurotransmitter/ neuromodulator agmatine (decarboxylated L-arginine) affected methamphetamine (METH)-induced hyperlocomotion and stereotypy in male ICR mice. Agmatine pretreatment alone had no effects on locomotion or stereotypy, but it produced a dose-dependent attenuation of locomotion and the total incidence of stereotyped behavior induced by a low dose of METH (5 mg/kg). The stereotypy induced by this dose was predominantly characterized by stereotyped sniffing. By contrast, agmatine did not affect the total incidence of stereotypy induced by a higher dose of METH (10 mg/kg). However, the nature of stereotypy induced by this dose of METH was substantially altered; agmatine pretreatment significantly reduced stereotyped biting but significantly increased stereotyped sniffing and persistent locomotion. Agmatine pretreatment therefore appears to produce a rightward shift in the dose-response curve for METH. Pretreatment of mice with piperazine-1-carboxamidine (a putative agmatinase inhibitor) had no effect on locomotion or stereotypy induced by a low dose of METH, suggesting that endogenous agmatine may not regulate the METH action.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 158-165 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Behavioural Pharmacology |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- agmatinase inhibitor
- agmatine
- hyperlocomotion methamphetamine
- mouse
- stereotyped behavior
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Medicine(all)