PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE FOR DOPAMINERGIC INVOLVEMENT IN STRESS-INDUCED EXCESSIVE GROOMING IN CATS

This study addresses the stressor-induced change in sensitivity to dop amine in cats. Five healthy cats were subjected to a standardized stre ssor prior to an injection with apomorphine-HCl (0.25 mg/kg s.c.) bein g the dose which did not provoke excessive grooming when given alone. The total grooming time and the grooming time per grooming location we re significantly raised (P<0.05) if compared with a reaction to a 0.9% NaCl solution. In a subsequent experiment the cats went through the s ame protocol, but 15 minutes before they were injected with haloperido l (0.5 mg/kg s.c.), which reduced the grooming time to the level as ob served in normal cats. The results support the idea that stress is abl e to induce excessive grooming and emphasizes the role of dopamine in relation to stress. The type of dopamine receptor involved in the ster eotyped grooming in cats remains to be further elucidated.