Locomotor activity as monitored in automated cages and behavioural characteristics

4 Locomotor activity as monitored in automated cages and behavioural characteristics 

Reserpine (10 mg/kg s.c.) was administered 18 h prior to the start of the experiments. On the day of the experiments the animals were placed alone in Plexiglas boxes during a period of 15 min for habituation. Subsequently, the test compounds were administered subcutaneously. The locomotor activity was registered during a period of 120 min using AUTOMEX II activity monitors (Columbus Instruments, Columbus, OH, USA). 

During a period of 60 min the behaviour of the rats was scored manually every 5 minutes. The behaviour scored was repeated sniffing, repeated licking and rearing as dopamine receptor stereotyped behaviour and flat body posture and lower lip retraction as indications of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) behavioural syndrome. The behaviour was scored when it lasted for more than half the observation period. The effects of the compounds were compared to a saline-treated control group. 

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