Behavioural effects in rats of unilateral and bilateral injections of opiate receptor agonists into the globus pallidus.

Unilateral injections of a putative kappa-opiate receptor agonist, ethylketocyclazocine, into the globus pallidus of rats caused dose-dependent ipsiversive circling which was inhibited by prior systemic administration of the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone. Neither a putative delta-opiate receptor agonist ( [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin) nor a putative mu-opiate receptor agonist (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-MePhe-Met(0)-ol) induced circling behaviour after unilateral intrapallidal injection. Bilateral intrapallidal injection of the delta-opiate receptor agonist or the mu-opiate receptor agonist caused an increase in locomotor activity which in both cases was reduced by systemic administration of naloxone. A specific delta-receptor antagonist, (N,N-bisalyl-Tyr-Gly-Gly-psi-(CH2S)-Phe-Leu-OH) had no effect on the increase in locomotor activity caused by the delta-opiate receptor agonist. Bilateral intrapallidal injection of the kappa-opiate receptor agonist had no effect on locomotor activity. It is suggested that different opiate receptor subtypes within the globus pallidus differentially mediate circling and locomotor behaviour.