Conditioned stereotypy: behavioral specification of the UCS and pharmacological investigation of the neural change

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1989 Jan;32(1):249-58. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(89)90241-4.

Abstract

Previous work has shown that conditioned stereotypy can be produced by repeated treatments with d-amphetamine or apomorphine. We replicated this phenomenon and found that, as in previous reports, the amplitude of conditioned stereotypy was about one-third that of the unconditioned stereotypy. On the basis of the hypothesis that the UCS in this conditioning situation is a specific stimulation level of dopamine receptors expressed as a peak behavioral effect (UCR), rats were exposed to the experimental boxes for a brief interval during the peak behavioral effect of the drugs. This procedure produced an amplitude of conditioned stereotypy about two-thirds that of unconditioned stereotypy. The issue of the synaptic mechanism mediating conditioned stereotypy was addressed by examining the effect of pimozide on the behavior. A dose of pimozide that completely blocked apomorphine-unconditioned stereotypy also blocked apomorphine-conditioned stereotypy with no sign of motor impairment. d-Amphetamine-conditioned stereotypy was not completely blocked by a dose of pimozide that completely blocked d-amphetamine-unconditioned stereotypy. The implications of these findings for understanding the neural basis of conditioned stereotypy are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apomorphine / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects*
  • Dextroamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Pimozide / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Receptors, Dopamine / drug effects
  • Stereotyped Behavior / drug effects*
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects*

Substances

  • Receptors, Dopamine
  • Pimozide
  • Apomorphine
  • Dextroamphetamine