Both dopaminergic and adrenergic receptors in the brain are involved in the behavioural excitation induced by dibutyryl 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate and aminophylline in the rat.

Following administration of dibutyryl cyclic-AMP or aminophylline, but not vehicle solution, into the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats produced locomotor stimulation, head and body rearing, circling, (as indicated by an enhancement of gross movement), increased grooming, head swaying and scratching (as indicated by an enhancement of fine movement), tail elevation, piloerection and convulsion. The behavioural excitation produced by either dibutyryl cyclic-AMP or aminophylline was antagonized by pretreatment with intraventricular injection of either two alpha-adrenergic antagonists (phentolamine and yohimbine) or a dopaminergic antagonist (haloperidol), but not with either a beta-adrenergic antagonist (propranolol) or a narcotic antagonist (naloxone). In addition, direct administration of dibutyryl cyclic-AMP into either the anterior hypothalamus, the nucleus accumbens or the caudate-putamen complex of rats produced the same behavioural responses as those produced by the intraventricular injection. Again, the behavioural responses induced by intracerebral injection of dibutyryl cyclic-AMP was antagonized by pretreatment with either alpha-adrenergic antagonists or a dopaminergic antagonist. The present data indicate that both the dopaminergic and the adrenergic receptors in the brain are involved in the behavioural excitation induced by dibutyryl cyclic-AMP and aminophylline in the rat.