Drug-induced changes of striatal cholinergic and dopaminergic functions in rats with spreading depression

Abstract

In rats with reversible, functional inactivation of one striatum by spreading depression (SD), dopaminergic stimulation of the intact striatum by Ro 4–4602 plus L-dopa, pargyline plus Ro 4–1284 as well as apomorphine or methamphetamine caused body torsion and rotational movements towards the side of SD. Neuroleptic drugs lead to contralateral body torsion. The apomorphine-induced functional changes were antagonized by the acetylcholine-like drugs arecoline and oxotremorine, but not by nicotine. Atropine, but not methylatropine, blocked the action of arecoline. It is concluded that in the regulation of muscle tone and locomotor activity, a cholinergic system (probably with muscarinic cholinoceptive sites) and a dopaminergic system in the striatum, antagonistic to each other, are involved.