Dimethylaminoethanol (deanol): effect on apomorphine-induced stereotypy and an animal model of tardive dyskinesia.

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) was administered acutely to rats subsequently injected with spomorphine. A dose of 80 mg of DMAE had no effect on the severity of apomorphine-induced stereotypy. However, 160 mg of DMAE significantly diminished the severity of apomorphine-induced stereotypy. This dose of DMAE did not significantly alter spontaneous locomotor activity. DMAE did not reduced apomorphine-induced stereotypy in animals previously exposed to haloperidol and presumed to have postsynaptic dopamine receptor supersensitivity. These results with DMAE are contrasted with the effects of choline chloride, and suggest that choline chloride may be more effective than DMAE at augmenting striatal cholinergic activity.