BLOCKADE OF DOPAMINE-RECEPTORS EXPLAINS THE LACK OF 5-HT STEREOTYPY ON TREATMENT WITH THE PUTATIVE 5-HT1A AGONIST LY165163

The putative serotonin (5-HT)1A agonist 1-[2(4-aminophenyl)ethyl]-4-(3-trifluormethylphenyl) piperazine (LY165163, PAPP) induces hyperphagia and hypothermia in rats, but unlike other 5-HT agonists, does not induce 5-HT stereotypy even at high dose (10 mg/kg sc). LY165163 (1 mg/kg) increased striatal DOPA accumulation in animals treated with the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor 3-hydroxy-benzylhydrazine (NSD 1015) (100 mg/kg ip). This increase was also found when the drug was given to animals pretreated with parachlorophenylalanine (pCPA) (150 mg/kg ip daily for 3 days). LY165163 (2 and 4 mg/kg sc) inhibited stereotyped behaviour induced by the dopamine (DA) agonist apomorphine (2 mg/kg sc). LY165163 (2, 4, 10 mg/kg sc) also inhibited stereotyped components of the 5-HT syndrome induced by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT; 5 mg/kg ip) which previous studies (e.g. Andrews et al. 1982) suggested to require DA (head weaving, reciprocal forepaw treading). Thus, while other 5-HT1A agonists such as 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) cause stereotypy, this does not occur with LY165163, probably because the drug blocks DA receptors.