Potentiation of apomorphine-induced gnawing in mice.

1. The association of antagonism of apomorphine-induced climbing with potentiation of apomorphine-induced gnawing in mice has been suggested as a means to detect "atypical" neuroleptics. 2. Clozapine, many compounds with central anticholinergic activity and propranolol have been demonstrated to possess this profile of activities. 3. Pharmacological manipulations with cholinomimetics suggest a cholinergic modulation of the gnawing behavior induced by apomorphine. 4. The observations with propranolol cannot be explained either by a cholinergic link nor by beta-adrenergic antagonism.