BACKWARD WALKING AND CIRCLING: BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSES INDUCED BY DRUG TREATMENTS WHICH CAUSE SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE OF CATECHOLAMINES AND 5‐HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE
British Journal of Pharmacology August 1, 1979 G. Curzon, J.c.r. Fernando, Andrew J. Lees 66 citations
Backward walking and circling in rats require simultaneous release of both dopamine and serotonin. A high dose of amphetamine (which releases dopamine) or drugs that release serotonin (p-chloroamphetamine or fenfluramine) each produced these behaviors. Combining smaller doses of amphetamine with either serotonin-releasing drug also triggered backward walking and circling. However, typical dopamine-driven behaviors (rearing, licking, gnawing) from amphetamine were greatly reduced by the serotonin drugs, while typical serotonin-driven behaviors (wet dog shake, hind limb abduction) were unaffected by amphetamine. Fragmentary backward walking and circling from levallorphan were reduced by low-dose amphetamine. The findings strengthen evidence that these movements depend on both dopamine and serotonin release, with possible relevance to hallucinogenic activity, amphetamine psychosis, schizophrenia, and abnormal movements from L-DOPA treatment.