Two types of changes in skin conductance activity after intraventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine in rats

Sixteen male Wistar strain rats were trained to have their skin conductance activity recorded through the soles of their hind limbs, and the effects of the intraventricular administration of 6-OHDA (200 micrograms) on this activity were studied. The intact rats showed skin conductance response and its habituation to repeated auditory stimuli (500 Hz, 90 dB, 1 sec). The 6-OHDA-treated rats exhibited either obliteration of the response or impairment of the habituation. The nonresponding state tended to be accompanied by a low rate of spontaneous skin conductance fluctuation, but the nonhabituating state was not accompanied by changes of the rate. The vehicle-treated rats showed no change in these activities. These electrodermal characteristics were discussed along with the CA hypothesis of schizophrenia.