Electroconvulsive treatment attenuates behavioral response to SKF 38393 in reserpine-treated mice

Electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) of mice, once daily for 7 days, significantly reduced the stimulation of motor activity induced by the selective dopamine (DA) D1-receptor agonist SKF 38393 (15 mg/kg IP), but significantly increased the motor stimulation by the unselective DA-receptor agonist apomorphine (1.5 mg/kg IP) in reserpine-treated (10 mg/kg IP) mice, when compared to control mice, receiving sham ECT. The results provide a functional correlate to previously observed ECT-induced down-regulation of D1 receptor sites in DA-rich regions of the rodent brain. Such an effect may be significant for clinical actions of ECT in affective disorders and, possibly, in Parkinson's disease.