[Supersensitivity by reserpine and means of antagonizing it]

Single or repeated reserpine application elicited in rats a supersensitivity which is measurable both by the rotation behavior and motor activity. This supersensitivity is accompanied by enhanced responsiveness to unspecific stimuli and increased responsiveness to receptor-active substances (dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, carbachol). Pretreatment with actinomycin D can transiently inhibit the development of supersensitivity, while repeated lithium application has no effect on it. The results give evidence for the unspecificity of reserpine-induced supersensitivity, which comprises both aminergic transmission systems and cholinergic systems and can be antagonized by inhibitors of protein synthesis.