DISCRETE QUINOLINIC ACID LESIONS OF THE LATERAL BUT NOT OF THE MEDIALCAUDATE-PUTAMEN REVERSED HALOPERIDOL-INDUCED CATALEPSY IN RATS

Discrete lesions in the medial or lateral subregion of the rostral cau date-putamen (CP) were induced by bilateral intracerebral injections o f a low dose of quinolinic acid (30 nmol in 1 mul/per side) in rats. Q uinolinic acid lesions in the lateral CP potently reversed haloperidol -induced catalepsy (0.5 mg/kg,i.p.), while lesions in the medial CP we re not effective. Spontaneous locomotor activity was not altered signi ficantly after quinolinic acid lesions of either the medial or lateral CP. These results show that the lateral CP seems to be important for the expression of neuroleptic-induced catalepsy and thus further corro borate the concept of a functional heterogenity of the striatum.