[The effect of drugs on electronically determined movement profile (movement profile analysis)]

In the movement profile analysis, movements of small laboratory animals, according to both intensity and direction (amplitude and polarity), are electronically measured by means of capacitive sensors. The electrical signals are amplified, classified into 13 classes in a classification device and depicted as frequency distribution. The obtained distribution corresponds to a Gaussian distribution if normal control mice are used (normal movement profile, MP). The normal MP is characteristically changed by drugs. By centrally depressing drugs (droperidol, chlorpromazine, diazepam, medazepam) distribution classes of weak movements are dose-dependently increased while classes of strong movements are decreased. Stimulating drugs (dexphenmetrazine, methamphetamine, caffeine) gave opposite changes of the MP. A certain time after a stimulating drug the change of the MP can turn to the MP of depressing drugs obviously as the result of exhaustion of the animal. After low doses of echinoramine I a MP with the characteristics of a depressing drug was found, after high doses the MP was that of a stimulating drug, perhaps as the result of subtoxic effects. After apomorphine (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) no clear dose-dependence could be found. The movement profile analysis can be useful in the specified analysis of movements-influencing drugs.