Pharmacokinetic study of apomorphine-induced stereotypy in food deprived rats

The relationship between the effect of food deprivation on apomorphine-induced stereotypy and the plasma apomorphine concentration in rats was studied. Male Wistar rats, allowed to have free access to food and water on deprived of food for 48 hr, were injected subcutaneously with apomorphine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg). Food deprivation was liable to potentiate the apomorphine-induced stereotypy in the early stage after dosing. Higher plasma apomorphine concentrations were found in the food deprived rats at this observation period. The potentiation of apomorphine-induced stereotypy following food deprivation can in part be explained by the pharmacokinetics changes. The exact mechanism of the effect of food deprivation on apomorphine kinetics is not clear at present.