Long-lasting behavioral effects of bromocriptine in cats.
F Gonzalez-Lima, W L Stiehl, R Medina
European Journal of Pharmacology July 1, 1984 DOI: 10.1016/0014-2999(84)90259-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational animal study using an ethological approach Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Cats housed in large outdoor cages |
| Intervention | Bromocriptine |
| Dose | 6 to 60 mg/kg i.p. |
| Duration | Behavior scored continuously over 12 h after administration, with additional 1-h observations at 24, 30, 36 and 48 h post-drug |
| Keywords | Animals Cats Bromocriptine Behavior, animal Grooming Sleep Dose-response relationship, drug Time factors Female |
| Key findings | Bromocriptine produced LSD- and psilocybin-like behavioral effects in cats that lasted much longer, including hallucinatory-like and escape behavior and dose-dependent abnormal involuntary movements. Lower doses (6-20 mg/kg) increased arousal while higher doses (30-60 mg/kg) decreased it; after 30 mg/kg effects persisted at 48 hours, and 60 mg/kg suppressed behavior with peak effects at 96 hours. |
Abstract
The objective was to determine the behavioral effects and duration of action of bromocriptine (BC) doses from 6 to 60 mg/kg i.p. Cats were housed in large outdoors cages designed for prolonged observation using an ethological approach. Baseline behavior was measured after a 3 month period of habituation. The frequency of 12 behaviors was then scored continuously over 12 h following BC administration. Cats were also observed for one h at 24, 30, 36 and 48 h post-drug. The behavioral effects of BC were remarkably similar to those of LSD and psilocybin but lasted much longer. Treated cats showed hallucinatory-like and escape behavior. Abnormal involuntary movements such as limb flicks, abortive grooming, and head and body shakes were also evoked with a dose-dependent frequency. Lower doses (6-20) produced generalized arousal, but larger doses (30-60) resulted in a decrease in arousal. After 30 mg/kg, hallucinatory-like behavior and general activity (rubbing, treading, kneading) were high at 48 h post-drug, but there were no longer abnormal movements. Behavioral suppression followed the 60 mg/kg dose and peak effects were at 96 h post-injection. This model may prove useful to further study the neural basis of the psychoactive effects of BC.