STIMULANT ACTIVITIES OF DIMETHOCAINE IN MICE - REINFORCING AND ANXIOGENIC EFFECTS

The present study evaluated the effects of dimethocaine and procaine, esteratic local anesthetics, on locomotor activity, conditioned place preference and on the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety in mice, beha vioral tests believed to be sensitive to cocaine action. Acute adminis tration of dimethocaine (10-40 mg/kg, IP) significantly increased loco motor activity and time spent on the drug-paired side and reduced the relative number of entries and time spent on the open arms of the plus -maze in mice. Procaine (20-50 mg/kg, IP) failed to affect these respo nses. These data demonstrate the locomotor stimulant, reinforcing and anxiogenic actions of dimethocaine similar to those reported for cocai ne in animals. In addition, these findings support a role for dopamine rgic activity, rather than local anesthetic action, in the behavioral effects caused by dimethocaine.