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Neurotensin blocks certain amphetamine-induced behaviours

Abstract

Bilateral injections of either neurotensin (NT; 0.3, 1 or 5 µg in 1 µl artificial CSF) or haloperidol (HA; 2.5 or 5 µg in 1 µl 0.3% tartaric acid) into nucleus accumbens of rats markedly diminished the forward locomotion and rearing induced by d-amphetamine (AM; 2 mg per kg, IP). Neither NT nor HA affected the insomnia or sniffing component of AM arousal. Isovolumetric intra-accumbens injections of artificial CSF or the endogenous decapeptide, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH; 3 µg), did not affect AM behaviours. Since intra-accumbens injections of NT (1 µg) or HA (2.5 µg) neither altered forward locomotion or rearing observed in untreated rats placed in an open field nor a variety of reflex activities, the observed effects of NT and HA in AM-treated rats were probably not due to impaired motor function per se. In contrast, NT does not produce neuroleptic-like effects when injected into nucleus caudatus; HA (5 µg) blocked stereotyped sniffing, licking, biting and head bobbing observed after AM (5 mg per kg, IP), but NT (3 or 5µg) did not. Since NT and dopamine are present in substantial quantities in the nucleus accumbens, NT may act in the nucleus accumbens to modulate dopaminergic function.

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Ervin, G., Birkemo, L., Nemeroff, C. et al. Neurotensin blocks certain amphetamine-induced behaviours. Nature 291, 73–76 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291073a0

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