TEMPORAL SYNERGISM OF 5-HTP AND L-DOPA IN THE WATER VOLE, ARVICOLA-TERRESTRIS - BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-EFFECTS

A laboratory population of water voles. Arvicola terrestris. was teste d in the late winter for its behavioral and physiological responses to 5-HTP and L-DOPA injected daily in various time relations. The experi ments were designed according to the concept of temporal synergism dev eloped by Albert H. Meier and colleagues. The parameters studied were: (1) The circadian rhythm of body temperature. (2) The circadian rhyth m of plasma glucocorticoids. (3) Body weight. (4) The thermoregulatory response to norepinephrine injections. (5) Various agonistic and emot ional behaviors. Even though the water voles received the same total d oses of neurotransmitter precursor, their responses in general depende d on the specific temporal relation of the injection times, More detai led research is needed to document more fully the role of temporal syn ergism in this species.