Alterations in drug induced catalepsy and post-decapitation convulsions following brain and spinal cord depletion of norepinephrine by the neurotoxin DSP-4.

The effects of central norepinephrine depletion produced by DSP-4 on drug-induced catalepsy and pot-decapitation convulsions were examined in the rat. Haloperidol-induced catalepsy was potentiated in DSP-4 treated rats, while arecoline-induced catalepsy was attenuated. Furthermore, post-decapitation convulsions were eliminated in DSP-4 treated animals. DSP-4 may prove to be a useful tool with which to investigate the behavioral consequences of damage to the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system.