EFFECTS OF BAY-K-8644 AND NIFEDIPINE ON LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVITY AND STRIATAL HOMOVANILLIC-ACID CONCENTRATION IN ACUTELY ETHANOL-TREATED RATS

Abstract

The possible involvement of voltage sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs) in both locomotor activity and striatal homovanillic acid (HVA) alterations in acutely low (0.5 g/kg) and high (2 g/kg) dose ethanol-treated rats was investigated. Both doses of ethanol produced inhibitory effects on both locomotor activity and striatal HVA levels. Bay K 8644 significantly potentiated and nifedipine reversed the locomotor inhibitory effect of low-dose ethanol, whereas both drugs did not alter locomotor activity and striatal HVA levels, when used alone. On the other hand, both Bay K 8644 and nifedipine significantly reversed the decrease in striatal HVA levels induced by the low and high doses of ethanol.