The NK‐3 tachykinin receptor agonist senktide elicits 5‐HT‐mediated behaviour following central or peripheral administration in mice and rats

Abstract

The behavioural effects of the selective NK‐3 tachykinin receptor agonist senktide were studied following intracisternal and subcutaneous administration in rodents. Behavioural manifestations of 5‐hydroxytryptaminergic stimulation, including head twitches (mice), wet dog shakes (rats), forepaw treading, flat body posture, hind‐limb splaying and Straub tail, were seen following the intracisternal (0.01–1.2 nmol) or subcutaneous (0.1–2.4 μmol kg−1) administration of senktide in both species. We conclude that stimulation of NK‐3 receptors stimulates 5‐hydroxytryptaminergic pathways in rodent brain, and that senktide may cross the blood‐brain barrier in biologically significant amounts. 1988 British Pharmacological Society