The effects of yohimbine and neuroleptics on apomorphine-induced pecking behaviour in the pigeon.

The effects of yohimbine and some neuroleptics were investigated on pecking behaviour, induced by apomorphine. The total pecking counts, recorded for 18 min, elicited by a standard dose of apomorphine (1 mg/kg) were inhibited dose-dependently by yohimbine and the neuroleptics. Haloperidol was found to be the most potent, trifluoperazine, yohimbine, chlorpromazine and the atypical neuroleptics were less effective in decreasing order. Chronic treatment with yohimbine (2.5 mg/kg per day for 20 days) caused an increase in pecking behaviour. These results suggest that apomorphine-induced pecking behaviour in the pigeon could be used as a reliable method for screening neuroleptic drugs and the antidopaminergic activity of yohimbine is verified in this model.