Biomaterial Database

Methylphenidate in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated developing rat pups. Effects on activity and maze performance. 1978

B A Shaywitz, and J H Klopper, and J W Gordon

In order to better devine the relationship between brain catecholaminergic mechanisms and the clinical syndrome of minimal brain dysfunction, we have developed an experimental model that has many of the features of the disorder seen in children. This model is effected by the preferential depletion of brain dopamine in 5-day-old rat pups following the intracisternal administration of 6-hydroxydopamine, and in the present investigation, we have examined the effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg) on activity levels and cognitive performance in normal and 6-hydroxydopamine treated animals. Methylphenidate therapy resulted in a significant increase in activity levels of normal rat pups 12 and 19 days of age; in contrast, methylphenidate administered to 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals did not increase activity at 12 days of age and significantly reduced activity at 19 and 26 days. Methylphenidate had no effect on T-maze performance in normals, but significantly improved performance in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals. Our results suggest that the "paradoxical" response to methylphenidate found in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rat pups may be the result of central denervation supersensitivity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008774	Methylphenidate	A central nervous system stimulant used most commonly in the treatment of ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER in children and for NARCOLEPSY. Its mechanisms appear to be similar to those of DEXTROAMPHETAMINE. The d-isomer of this drug is referred to as DEXMETHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE.	Centedrin,Concerta,Daytrana,Equasym,Metadate,Methylin,Methylphenidate Hydrochloride,Phenidylate,Ritalin,Ritalin-SR,Ritaline,Tsentedrin,Hydrochloride, Methylphenidate,Ritalin SR
D001923	Brain Chemistry	Changes in the amounts of various chemicals (neurotransmitters, receptors, enzymes, and other metabolites) specific to the area of the central nervous system contained within the head. These are monitored over time, during sensory stimulation, or under different disease states.	Chemistry, Brain,Brain Chemistries,Chemistries, Brain
D002395	Catecholamines	A general class of ortho-dihydroxyphenylalkylamines derived from TYROSINE.	Catecholamine,Sympathin,Sympathins
D004193	Discrimination Learning	Learning that is manifested in the ability to respond differentially to various stimuli.	Discriminative Learning,Discrimination Learnings,Discriminative Learnings,Learning, Discrimination,Learning, Discriminative
D004195	Disease Models, Animal	Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases.	Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006892	Hydroxydopamines	Dopamines with a hydroxy group substituted in one or more positions.	Hydroxydopamine
D000367	Age Factors	Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time.	Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age