Abstract
The ‘Wet-Dog’ shake (WDS) response has been investigated in the rat as a possible animal model to quantify central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) activity. The behaviour occurs in a dose-dependent manner following systemic administration of the 5-HT precursor. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). It is also seen after injection of L-tryptophan and the proposed 5-HT agonists 5-methoxy- N N'-dimethyltryptamine, lysergic acid diethylamide and quipazine. Potential 5-HT uptake blocking compounds (chlorimipramine. ORG 6582. femoxetine) only weakly and intermittently induced the phenomenon. The putative 5-HT antagonists methysergide and cyproheptadine were effective at blocking 5-HTP-induced WDS. Concomitant dopamine receptor stimulation with amphetamine and apomorphine also markedly decreased the 5-HTP-induced WDS response. However manipulation of central cholinergic and noradrenergic mechanisms was without effect on 5-HTP-induced WDS behaviour. Biochemically, regional increases in cerebral 5-HT concentrations paralleled the WDS response seen after systemic administration of 5-HTP. From lesioning and brain sectioning experiments it is concluded that the WDS reflex originates in the brain stem but can be greatly facilitated by the presence of diencephalic structures. It is proposed that the WDS response in rats may provide a quantitative model of central 5-HT activity. It is possibly related to head twitches and jerks described in other animal species.
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