Selective brain dopamine depletion in developing rats: an experimental model of minimal brain dysfunction.

Administration of 6-hydroxydopamine to neonatal rats produces a rapid and profound depletion of brain dopamine. Total activity of treated animals is significantly greater than that of controls between 12 and 22 days of age, but then declines, an activity pattern similar to that seen in affected children. This suggests a functional deficiency of brain dopamine in the pathogenesis of minimal brain dysfunction.