6-OHDA-treated weanling rats show normal neuroleptic sensitivity as adults on LHSS

Weanling rats receiving 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) ICV on postnatal days 15-20 and tested as adults have normal lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation locus of rise (LOR) reward thresholds but significantly lower operant motor/performance (MAX) capacity when compared to vehicle-treated controls using the rate-frequency method. These results are comparable to those previously seen in adult rats treated with 6-OHDA on postnatal day 3. In a second test, day 15-20 6-OHDA treated rats were tested as adults with pimozide (0.125-1.0 mg/kg) and showed LOR shifts ranging from 0.06-0.32 log Hz and MAX shifts of 83-47% of baseline. These results were not significantly different at any dose when compared to day 15-20 vehicle-treated rats. This second result contrasts with the pimozide subsensitivity previously reported in day 3 6-OHDA treated rats and suggests that DA depletions made later in neonatal life may involve different forms of recovery than those seen with earlier dopamine depletions.