Abstract
The hypoactivity in rats induced by small doses of apomorphine, injected bilaterally into the nucleus accumbens area of the brain, could be antagonized by pretreatment with the neuroleptic-like neuropeptide des-enkephalin-γ-endorphin (DEγE, β-endorphin 6–17) as well as with the neuroleptic drugs haloperidol, sulpiride and clozapine injected into the accumbens. Dose-response studies revealed that a dose of 100 pg DEγE completely inhibited the apomorphine-induced hypomotility. p ]The influence of DEγE appeared to be specific for γ-type endorphins, since α-type endorphins were inactive in this respect. Treatment with DEγE injected into the accumbens for 4 days resulted in an enhancement of apomorphine-induced hypoactivity. It is concluded that γ-type endorphins may control the activity of dopaminergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens, a suggestion which may be of significance for the purported neuroleptic-like and antipsychotic action of γ-type endorphins.
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