Effects of early post-natal alpha-methyl-dopa treatment on behavior in the rat

250 mg/kg of L-alpha-methyl-Dopa (alpha-m-Dopa) or saline were administered to rats for three weeks after birth. Subsequent tests revealed an increased locomotor activity and greater rate of acquisition but no disturbance in shuttle-box conditioning. The whole brain content of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin was not affected.