Summary
Rats of 3 strains were observed at regular intervals and their activity was recorded using four categories of behaviour-rearing, moving, grooming and immobile. Strain differences in control activity were found. Nicotine and physostigmine reduced the activity of the more active rats and increased that of the less active animals. Rearing behaviour was particularly susceptible to depression by both drugs. The similarity of effect of the two drugs supports the hypothesis that one of the actions of nicotine in the brain is the release of acetylcholine.
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Morrison, C.F., Lee, P.N. A comparison of the effects of nicotine and physostigmine on a measure of activity in the rat. Psychopharmacologia 13, 210–221 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401401
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401401