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Behavioural responses to amphetamine and apomorphine in pigs
E M Terlouw1, G De Rosa, A B Lawrence
1Scottish Agricultural College, Edinburgh, UK.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Amphetamine and apomorphine affect pig behavior differently. Amphetamine causes rigid standing, while apomorphine increases locomotion and shows conditioning effects, suggesting distinct neural pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuropharmacology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Understanding drug effects on animal behavior is crucial for research.
- Amphetamine and apomorphine are known to influence neurotransmitter systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the behavioral effects of amphetamine and apomorphine in pigs.
- To investigate the neural systems targeted by these drugs.
Main Methods:
- Pigs were administered varying doses of amphetamine (0-1.5 mg/kg) and apomorphine (0-1.0 mg/kg).
- Behavioral responses, including locomotion, standing, and specific actions, were systematically observed and recorded.
Main Results:
- Amphetamine increased nosing, rooting, and locomotion, often linked to increased standing, and induced rigid postures at higher doses.
- Apomorphine increased locomotion specifically, without a significant increase in standing, and induced unique behaviors like snout-floor contact locomotion.
- Apomorphine exhibited a strong conditioning effect, leading to reduced behavioral variability post-injection.
Conclusions:
- Amphetamine and apomorphine produce distinct behavioral syndromes in pigs, indicating differential action on neural systems.
- Neither drug replicated behaviors observed in environmentally induced stereotypies in pigs.