Daily injections of cyanamide enhance both ethanol-induced locomotion and brain catalase activity

A role for brain catalase in the mediation of some psychopharmacological ef fects of ethanol has been proposed. In the present study, we investigated t he effects of repeated cyanamide injections on the activity of brain catala se, as well as on the ethanol-induced locomotion of mice. Male Swiss mice w ere pre-treated with cyanamide (10 mg/kg; three times per day, 5 days) or s aline. At different times (2, 3, 6 or 9 days) following this treatment, ani mals were injected with ethanol. Immediately following this ethanol challen ge, animals were placed in the open held chambers and locomotor activity wa s assessed for 10 min. Results indicated an increase in ethanol-induced loc omotion of mice pre-treated with cyanamide 2, 3 or 6 days before the ethano l challenge. Brain catalase activity showed an enhancement at the same time period and the two variables showed a significant correlation. No differen ces between pre-treatment groups on ethanol blood levels were observed at t ime of testing. In a second study, the effects of these cyanamide treatment conditions on d-amphetamine-induced locomotor activity were assessed. Resu lts indicated no differences between pre-treatment groups in d-amphetamine- induced locomotion. Thus, these data suggest that repeated daily injections of cyanamide can simultaneously induce both brain catalase and locomotor a ctivity, and that these effects may be strongly related. Furthermore, the p resent study provides further support for the notion that brain catalase ac tivity may be a factor mediating some of the psychopharmacological effects of ethanol. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.