A SIMPLE, NONINVASIVE METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF RESERPINE-INDUCEDTREMOR IN RATS

A new, non-invasive method for measuring reserpine-induced tremor in r odents is described here. The test procedure is based on the piezo-ele ctric principle and was evaluated using the tremorogenic compound rese rpine and the stereotypies-inducing drug apomorphine. Whereas for rese rpine an orderly and dose-related increase in activity was observed, n o such effect was detected with apomorphine. In order to further evalu ate the test procedure, studies on the antagonism of reserpine-induced tremor were also performed. Results from these studies indicated that the DA-agonist lisuride, but not the St-antagonist ritanserin, were a ble to antagonize the reserpine-induced tremor in a dose-related manne r.