Assessment of grooming and other behavioural responses to the D-1 dopamine receptor agonist SK & F 38393 and its R- and S-enantiomers in the intact adult rat.

The behavioural effects of the D-1 dopamine receptor agonist SK & F 38393 were assessed in the intact adult rat using a conventional stereotypy rating scale and a rapid time sampling behavioural check list procedure. This combination technique allowed description of the nature of any behavioural response and quantification of the number of counts of individual behaviours. Using this combined procedure, SK & F 38393 clearly failed to induce typical stereotyped behaviour. However, in the well-habituated animal, SK & F 38393 dose-dependently increased the number of recordings of non-stereotyped sniffing, locomotion and grooming; some occasional rearing was also noted. An unusual pattern of intense grooming behaviour was a characteristic response to this drug. Using the resolved R- and S-enantiomers of SK & F 38393, promotion of sniffing, locomotion, rearing and grooming resided stereoselectively in the R-configuration. Under appropriate experimental conditions, specifically a requirement for prolonged habituation and the use of a rapid sampling behavioural check list to supplement the rating scale, it is possible to demonstrate that SK & F 38393 is behaviourally active in the whole animal.