Effect of calcium on locomotor activity of mice

Intracerebroventricular administration of calcium severely depressed the locomotor activity of unanesthetized mice, producing ataxic gait and motor incoordination. Pretreatment with pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, IP) twice daily for 2 and 6 days partially reversed this effect of calcium, suggesting that calcium and pentobarbital may in part exert their depressant effect by a similar mechanism.