SKF-10,047 reverses stress-induced motor suppression: interaction with dopaminergic system

Mice exhibited a marked suppression of motility (conditioned suppression) when placed in the same environment in which they had previously received an electric footshock. This stress-induced motor suppression was dose dependently attenuated by (+/-)-SKF-10,047, a sigma receptor agonist, but not by its (-)-optical isomer ((-)-SKF-10,047) and the sigma receptor ligands (+)-pentazocine and 1,3-di-(2-tolyl)guanidine. This effect of (+/-)-SKF-10,047 was antagonized by BMY-14802, a sigma receptor antagonist, and by pimozide, a dopamine receptor antagonist. When dopaminergic neurons were destroyed by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine, the effect of (+/-)-SKF-10,047 on the stress response was also attenuated. Furthermore, (+/-)-SKF-10,047 dose dependently reversed the decrease in striatal dopamine turnover in the conditioned suppression group. These results suggest that stress-induced motor suppression is restored by (+/-)-SKF-10,047 acting through sigma receptors, which are closely linked to the dopaminergic neuronal system.