Possible involvement of a sigma receptor subtype in the neck dystonia in rats

To clarify which subtype of sigma receptors is involved in the sigma receptor-mediated neck dystonia in rats, we examined whether 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (SA4503), a selective sigma1 receptor agonist, and 1,3-di-(2-tolyl)guanidine (DTG), a sigma1 and sigma2 receptor agonist, induce neck dystonia in rats. Microinjection of SA4503 into the red nucleus of rat brain scarcely produced neck dystonia at the concentration of 10 nmol/0.5 microl. On the contrary, DTG produced significant dystonia at a concentrations of more than 5 nmol/0.5 microl. These results indicate that the sigma2 receptor subtype, but not sigma1 receptor subtype, may play an important role in the sigma receptor-mediated neck dystonia in rats.