Behavioral Characterization of d - and l -Amphetamine: Neurochemical Implications

Abstract

Various doses of d- and l-amphetamine affect the temporal pattern of rat behavior in the following ways: First, the patterns of activity produced by d- and l-amphetamine are similar but out of phase; that is, the response to d-amphetamine has a relatively shorter latency whereas the effects of l-amphetamine persist for longer periods of time. Second, d-amphetamine is approximately five times as potent as l-amphetamine in its effects on both the total amount of locomotor activity and the duration of stereotypy. Both amphetamine-induced locomotion and stereotypy may be mediated by the same neurochemical mechanisms.

Differential Contributions of Dopamine D1, D2, and D3 Receptors to MDMA-Induced Effects on Locomotor Behavior Patterns in Mice

“…Such behavioral models have provided a foundation for much of what we know regarding the neural correlates of behavioral effects of drugs of abuse, in particular psychotomimetics such as stimulants and hallucinogens (Adams and Geyer, 1982;Bankson and Cunningham, 2001;Creese, 1983;Eilam et al, 1989;Fink and Morgenstern, 1985;Geyer, 1990;Lehmann-Masten and Geyer, 1991;Segal, 1975;Segal et al, 1981Segal et al, , 1980Swerdlow and Koob, 1985). Locomotor behavior paradigms offer a rich profile of behaviors with which to measure the complex interactions between neurochemical systems and the consequent behavioral output (Segal and Geyer, 1985;Segal et al, 1981Segal et al, , 1980Segal and Kuczenski, 1987).…”

Pharmacological manipulation of hoarding: Further analysis of amphetamine isomers and pimozide

“…The suggestion that stereotypy plays a role in suppressing the onset of hoarding (and eating) is supported by the observation that pimozide failed to antagonize the effect of 1-amphetamine on hoarding latency. Since 1-amphetamine does not produce stereotypic behavior at the doses used in this study (Segal, 1975), an antistereotypic action of pimozide would not be expected. Accordingly, it seems that while the action of damphetamine on hoarding latency may be partially mediated by drug-induced stereotypy, this explanation cannot account for the effect of the I-isomer.…”

“…Moreover, since Segal (1975) has suggested that the major distinction between the behavioral actions of d-and I-amphetamine may depend upon time differences in the activity of the drugs, the first experiment considered closely the temporal profiles of hoarding behavior. In addition, because of the observation that amphetamine anorexia appears to be partially accounted for by a blockade of the onset of eating (Blundell, Latham, & Leshem, 1976;Blundell & Leshem, 1975), it seemed necessary to include a measure of the latency to the onset of hoarding.…”

The Neuropsychopharmacology of Stimulants: Dopamine and ADHD

“…It is only when you get to the individual patient that you find differences in the stimulants. For example, l-amphetamine alone has been tested and shown in a smaller study to be useful for some patients with ADHD, even a few which did not respond as well to damphetamine (Segal 1974). More recent comparison of controlled-release preparations of amphetamines and methylphenidate show little differences in overall efficacy.…”