Barrel rotation induced by vasopressin and related peptides in rats

Intraventricular injection of arginine-8-vasopressin and its analogues vasotocin and lysine-8-vasopressin into rat brain evoked a special rotational behavior resembling somatostatin-induced barrel rotation [1]. Oxytocin and oxypressin were less active while vasopressin fragments had no effect. Vasopressin-induced barrel rotation was accompanied by pathological symptoms indicating a disturbance of muscle tone regulation and is considered to be a non-specific and toxic effect. This rotational behavior was not prevented by atropine, propranolol, phentolamine, methylsergide or haloperidol but was reduced by chlorpromazine, probably due to the latter's muscle relaxing activity.