Reference

Stimulant activities of dimethocaine in mice

Stimulant activities of dimethocaine in mice. Reinforcing and anxiogenic effects. Rigon, Adriana, R.; Takahashi, Reinaldo N. (Dep. 59-46-1 and 94-15-5 are cas registry numbers. These chemicals are also mentioned in this article. Farmacologia, Univ. Federal Santa Catarina, Florianopolis 88049, Brazil). Psychopharmacology (Berlin), 127(4), 323-327 (English) 1996 Springer. CODEN: PSCHDL. ISSN: 0033-3158. DOCUMENT TYPE: Journal CA Section: 1 (Pharmacology) The present study evaluated the effects of dimethocaine and procaine, esteratic local anesthetics, on locomotor activity, conditioned place preference and on the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety in mice, behavioral tests believed to be sensitive to cocaine action. Acute administration of dimethocaine (10-40 mg/kg, IP) significantly increased locomotor activity and time spent on the drug-paired side and reduced the relative no. of entries and time spent on the open arms of the plus-maze in mice. Procaine (20-50 mg/kg, IP) failed to affect these responses. These data demonstrate the locomotor stimulant, reinforcing, and anxiogenic actions of dimethocaine similar to those reported for cocaine in animals. In addn., these findings support a role for dopaminergic activity, rather than local anesthetic action, in the behavioral effects caused by dimethocaine. .