Selective dopaminergic regulation of stereotyped forms of aggressive and defensive behavior

In rabbits the dopaminergic agonists (L-DOPA, apomorphine) induce and control the stereotypic forms of behaviour (thumping, licking and biting) selectively. These forms of behaviour can be used as test-responses for quantitative studies of the neuropsychotropic substances acting on the central dopaminergic synapses, and also for screening the antiparkinsonic agents.