Methamphetamine-induced stereotypies in newly-hatched decerebrated domestic chicks

Metamphetamine in high dose has been reported to induce stereotypic behavio r of abnormal form in the pigeon and domestic chick. A number of reports su ggested that the target of metamphetamine was the paleostriatal complex, th e highest motor center of the avian brain. The present study tested this hy pothesis by treating newly-hatched domestic chicks with high dose of metamp hetamine (10 mg/kg b.w.) after complete decerebration or sham operation. St ereotypic mandibulations were observed both in sham-operated and in decereb rated birds in similar form following methamphetamine treatment. The result s suggested that brainstem pattern generators remain responsive to dopamine rgic stimuli in the absence of the main telencephalic (striatal) targets.