Action of a chronic arecoline administration on mouse motility and on acetylcholine concentrations in the CNS.

The modifications of mouse motility and of the levels of acetylcholine (ACh) in two sections of the CNS caused by a chronic administration of 4.5; 9.5; 28.5 and 60 mg kg-1 day-1 of arecoline for 20 days have been studied. At low doses (4.5 and 9.5 mg kg-1 day-1), arecoline caused no modification of the ACh levels and of the motility. The higher doses (28.5 and 60 mg kg-1 day-1) caused a reduction of the mouse motility and an increase of the ACh levels in the subcortical structures of the CNS of the mouse.