Individual and morphological differences in the behavioural response to apomorphine in rats

Abstract

The topography of stereotyped behaviour produced by apomorphine in rats was studied by using either a scoring system, based on observation in a wire cage, or by quantification of horizontal and vertical activities, and of the total distances run in an open field, using an automatic recording system. The latter design was combined with a classification of the type of stereotyped behaviour observed during recording. In addition, the reproducibility of the nature of the stereotyped behaviour and its dose-dependence in individual animals was evaluated. In rats observed in a wire cage, apomorphine at lower doses (0.25 or 0.50 mg/kg SC) produced stereotyped sniffing. Increasing the doses led to stereotyped licking and the largest dose (5.00 mg/kg SC) produced predominantly stereotyped gnawing, as was demonstrated graphically. The type of behaviour produced by 2 mg/kg apomorphine in the open field was reproduced well in individuals after a second administration 4 days later. The shift from sniffing to gnawing was observed in most, but not all of the individually classified animals after administration of the largest dose (5 mg/kg). The locomotor part of motility was highest in “sniffing animals” and lower when gnawing occurred. The non-locomotor part of motility was low in “sniffing rats” and increased when licking and gnawing occurred. In some of the animals a characteristic “climbing” behaviour was observed in addition after the larger doses, which did not interfere with sniffing, licking or gnawing.

A combination of classification by observation and automatic recording seems the most appropriate way to study the topography of stereotyped behaviour produced by apomorphine.