BOTH NICOTINE AND MECAMYLAMINE BLOCK DIZOCILPINE INDUCED EXPLOSIVE JUMPING BEHAVIOR IN MICE - PSYCHIATRIC IMPLICATIONS

Dizocilpine (MK-801) administration to an outbred strain of NIH Swiss mice elicits discrete episodes of explosive jumping behavior designate d as ''popping,'' This behavior may serve as a useful preclinical para digm for the screening of potentially novel antipsychotic medications. Both nicotine and mecamylamine, a nicotinic antagonist, dose-dependen tly blocked dizocilpine-induced popping. The data suggest that nicotin e may be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of schizophrenia and that some of its effects may be mediated by non-nicotinic receptors.