Central action of ergometrine

Ergometrine, a spasmolytic which also stimulates dopamine receptors, was investigated as a potential central stimulant. It did not influence the locomotor activity of normal rats and mice, and in high doses even depressed it. The locomotor activity depressed by reserpine, spiroperidol, and pimozide was elevated by ergometrine. Ergometrine antagonized neuroleptic-induced catalepsy and abolished ptosis and hypothermia produced by reserpine. Given alone ergometrine depressed the body temperature in rats and mice, and this effect was abolished by pimozide in both species, and by spiroperidol and haloperidol in mice. The hypothermia was not antagonized by atropine. In several respects the central action of ergometrine resembles that of apomorphine.