Modification of apomorphine-induced behaviour following chronic swim exercise in rats

Four week swim exercise schedule (45 min day-1, 6 days each week) in rats led to a significant adaptive change in functional responsiveness of dopamine receptors (auto-receptors) in the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic system that was evident from the modification of behavioural responses elicited by a low dose of apomorphine, a direct acting dopamine receptor agonist. Thus, a remarkable increase in yawning response, development of full blown stereotypy, as well as profound attenuation of locomotory and hypothermic response was observed in exercise-trained rats as compared with the non-exercise group (control), following intraperitoneal administration of 0.3 mg kg-1 of apomorphine.