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The effects of several doses from 0.125-3 mg/kg of methamphetamine on the novelty-seeking behaviour of male Swiss albino mice were studied. Methamphetamine induced a dose-dependent inhibition of novelty preference. Furthermore, a dose of methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) which strongly decreased novelty preference in naive mice induced a significantly lower decrease in exploration of subjects previously exposed to novelty. These data provide some support for Berlyne's (1967) suggestion that amphetamine has a disruptive effect on exploration by producing over-arousal.

The effects of several doses of apomorphine (AP: 0.062-8 mg/kg) on novelty preference (NP) in male Swiss mice were studied. AP induced a dose-dependent reduction of NP as well as of locomotor activity. The decrease in NP appeared to be related to the effect of the drug in reducing locomotion, and may be explained by a drug-induced increase in perseverance and stereotypy interfering with locomotion and NP by response incompatibility. These results contrast with those obtained with methamphetamine (MA) in a previous study (Misslin and Ropartz 1981) replicated here which also shows a reduction of NP. Furthermore, the neuroleptic thioridazine did not antagonize the effects of AP or MA on NP in mice, whereas the substituted benzamides tiapride and sulpiride did so. The substituted benzamides appear to act selectively on a restricted dopamine receptor population.

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