Wj. Schmidt et al., ANTIPARKINSONIAN AND OTHER MOTOR EFFECTS OF FLUPIRTINE ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH DOPAMINERGIC DRUGS, European journal of pharmacology, 327(1), 1997, pp. 1-9
In this study we attempted to specify the behavioural profile of the a
nalgesic flupirtine (1, 10 and 20 mg/kg p.o.) in the rat with respect
to (i) its antiparkinsonian potential alone and as an adjunct to L-dih
ydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) in the haloperidol-induced catalepsy (0.5
mg/kg haloperidol i.p.), (ii) locomotion and exploratory behaviour in
the open field with holeboard, and (iii) possible psychomotor stimula
ting effects in the experimental chamber. In the two latter tests, beh
aviour was additionally challenged by D-amphetamine (2 mg/kg i.p.). In
the catalepsy tests (horizontal bar, podium, grid) flupirtine alone w
as anticataleptic at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg p.o., and the antiparkin
sonian potential of a subthreshold dose of L-DOPA (50 mg/kg p.o.) was
potentiated by 1 and 10 mg/kg p.o. flupirtine. On spontaneous forward
locomotion in the open field with holeboard flupirtine (1 and 10 mg/kg
p.o.) had no marked effect but increased the frequency and duration o
f head dips, indicative for augmenting exploratory behaviour. Spontane
ous rearing was reduced and D-amphetamine-induced rearing was enhanced
by 1 mg/kg p.o. flupirtine. Grooming was reduced by 1 and 10 mg/kg p.
o. flupirtine. In contrast, turning and grooming behaviour (spontaneou
s as well as D-amphetamine-induced) was not markedly influenced by flu
pirtine in the experimental chamber. Sniffing was increased in this te
st by 1 mg/kg p.o. flupirtine but not by the higher dose. Flupirtine i
s highly effective in antagonising neuroleptic-induced catalepsy as we
ll as in potentiating L-DOPA treatment in the rat, suggesting it is a
prospective new candidate for the therapy of Parkinson's disease.