Lack of behavioral evidence for dopamine autoreceptor subsensitivity after acute electroconvulsive shock.

A single electroconvulsive shock (ECS) delivered 7 days previously produced a significant decrease in spontaneous locomotion and rearing in non-habituated rats but did not alter the inhibition of these behaviors produced by low dose apomorphine administration. As such apomorphine effects are thought to be mediated by dopamine (DA) autoreceptors, these data are not consistent with previous reports that the ECS treatment produces a persistent subsensitivity of DA autoreceptors.