Neurotensin affects hyperactivity but not stereotypy induced by pre and post synaptic dopaminergic stimulation.

The effects of intraventricular administration of neurotensin (0.9, 3.75 and 15.0 micrograms) on hyperactivity and stereotypy induced by either amphetamine (1 mg/kg), nomifensine (20 mg/kg), apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) or N-n-propylnorapomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) were examined. Results indicate that for each drug treatment, the effects of neurotensin were identical: hyperactivity was significantly reduced while stereotypy remained unaffected. Results also revealed that neurotensin significantly increased the hypothermia induced by apomorphine and N-n-propylnorapomorphine. Possible mechanisms which could underly neurotensin's selective inhibitory action on hyperactivity produced by both pre and post synaptic dopaminergic stimulation are discussed.