APOMORPHINE-INDUCED AGGRESSIVE AND NONAGGRESSIVE RATS DIFFER IN [H-3]RACLOPRIDE-SENSITIVE D-2 RECEPTOR-BINDING CHARACTERISTICS

We have studied the [H-3]raclopride-sensitive dopamine D-2 receptor bi nding characteristics in apomorphine-induced aggressive and nonaggress ive adult male Wistar rats. Repeated apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg, once dail y) treatment gradually induced aggressive behaviour in 80% of animals tested. Subsequent dopamine D-2 receptor binding revealed that the agg ressive animals had a twice higher maximal number of [H-3]raclopride-s ensitive binding sites in comparison with the nonaggressive or vehicle -treated group. These findings suggest that the apomorphine-induced ag gressive male rats display a higher maximal number of the apparent [H- 3]raclopride-sensitive dopamine D-2 receptor binding sites. Med Sci Re s 26:499-501 (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.