Interaction between dopaminergic and cholinergic systems under conditions of deficiency of mesencephalo-striatal dopamine in rats

In chronic behavioral experiments on rats with a unilateral deficiency of mesencephalo-striatal dopamine, we studied the effect of the blocker of M-cholinoreceptors atropine on the rotational motor activity induced by systemic injections of dopamine agonists exerting direct (apomorphine) and indirect (amphetamine) actions. We found that premedication with atropine increased significantly the intensity of the rotational movements induced by both apomorphine and amphetamine. We conclude that the mesencephalo-striatal dopaminergic system exerts inhibitory effects on cholinergic neurons of the neostriatum. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 37, Nos. 5/6, pp. 459–462, September–December, 2005.