Effects of anticholinergic drugs on regional brain neurotensin concentrations.

Chronic treatment with atropine sulfate (20 mg/kg), atropine methyl bromide (20 mg/kg), or scopolamine (2 mg/kg) did not increase neurotensin concentrations in the nucleus accumbens or caudate nucleus. Chronic co-administration of atropine sulfate did not alter the increases in neurotensin concentrations in the nucleus accumbens and caudate nucleus produced by chronic treatment with haloperidol (1 mg/kg). The anticholinergic properties of antipsychotic drugs apparently do not mediate the increases in neurotensin concentration observed after chronic treatment with antipsychotic drugs.