Neostriatal administration of somatostatin:differential effect of small and large doses on behavior and motor control

The administration of small doses of somatostatin (SRIF) (0.01 and 0.1 microgram) into the neostriatal complex of unrestrained, freely moving rats induced general behavioral excitation associated with a variety of stereotyped movements, tremors, and a reduction of rapid eye movements (REM) and deep slow wave sleep (SWS). In contrast, the higher doses of SRIF (1.0 and 10.0 microgram) caused movements to be uncoordinated and frequently induced more severe difficulties in motor control such as contralateral hemiplegia-in-extension which restricted or completely prevented the expression of normal behavioral patterns. As a result, the animals appeared drowsy and inhibited. Analysis of the sleep-waking cycle revealed prolonged periods of a shallow SWS while REM sleep and deep SWS were markedly reduced; electroencephalogram recordings revealed periods of dissociation from behavior. The administration of endocrinologically inactive as well as the active analogues of SRIF failed to induce effects comparable with those observed after the administration of the same dose of the native hormone (10.0 microgram).