Substance P elicited grooming in the mouse: behavioral and pharmacological characteristics

Substance P undercapeptide produces intense grooming after central injection. To characterize further this syndrome at behavioral and psychopharmacological level: (a) substance P elicited grooming was compared to spontaneously occurring grooming for their respective behavioral characteristics, and (b) a variety of centrally active substances were injected in an attempt to modify the normal occurrence of the grooming syndrome. Manipulations of opioid systems did not affect grooming, nor did a variety of other peptides. However, central injections of neurotensin significantly inhibited grooming. This interaction may represent a functional behavioral correlate of the established neuroanatomical interactions of the above substances.