[Effect of preparations that alter catecholaminergic processes on the serotoninergic syndrome of head twitching in...

Specific neuroleptics suppressed head twitching (HT) in mice, provoked by d,1-5-hydroxytryptophane (200 mg/kg i. p.) in doses starting from 0.00025 mg/kg (spiroperidol). L-DOPA and piribedil inhibited HT in doses from 25 and 50 mg/kg respectively, whereas apomorphine and d,1-amphetamine in doses of 1 up to 10 mg/kg exerted ambivalent activity. HT was significantly attenuated by clonidine in doses from 0.25 mg/kg, whereas by noradrenaline, isoprenaline and naphthizine, injected into the brain ventricles, in doses of 1 microgram, and 0.025 microgram per mouse respectively. Destruction of brain catecholaminergic neurons by intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine (50 micrograms per mouse) caused a strong enhancement of HT. However, partial protection of the adrenergic (but not the dopaminergic) neurons by pretreatment with desipramine or similar drug AW 15,1129 eliminated the protective effect of 6-hydroxydopamine. It is concluded that there is the dopaminergic link in the mechanism of HT and that the stimulation of the central adrenoreceptors inhibits HT.