CHOLINERGIC STIMULATION OF CAUDATE-NUCLEUS IN RATS - MODEL OF PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Unilateral injection of cholinergic drugs into the caudate nucleus of the rat caused a complex behavior pattern which included contralateral limb tremors and dystonia. The behavior pattern was blocked by anticholinergic drugs. Limb tremor was quantitatable and reversible at low doses of cholinomimetic drugs. Carbachol-induced tremor activity was dose dependent if injections were made into the caudate nucleus and rats were rested for one week between injections. Inhibition of carbachol-induced forelimb tremors is a potentially useful screen for new antiparkinsonism drugs. The injection of cholinomimetic drugs into the caudate nucleus of rats or cats causes a complex behavior pattern which partially resembles Parkinson's disease (Conner, Rossi and Baker, 1966; Dill, Nickey and Little, 1968). Presented here are data which confirm and expand these findings for the rat along with a preliminary description of a method for quantifying limb tremor activity which can be used as a model of parkinsonism tremor. © 1978.