Serotonergic and dopaminergic involvement in the mechanism of action of R-(−)-2, 5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (DOB) in cats

Intraperitoneally administered R-(−)- and S-(+)- enantiomers of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine were evaluated for their ability to induce head-body shake, limb flick and abortive grooming behaviors in cats. The R-(−)-enantiomer was consistently more effective than the S-(+)-isomer in all three behavioral measures. Dose-response relationships were evident for head-body shakes and limb flicks for both enantiomers, but reliable abortive grooming responses appeared only after the higher doses of R-(−)-DOB. Cinanserin and methysergide pretreatments effectively antagonized the induction of head-body shakes and limb flicks by 0.1 mg/kg R-(−)-DOB. In addition, haloperidol pretreatment significantly antagonized the appearance of these behaviors suggesting that dopaminergic as well as serotonergic stimulation is involved in the elicitation of these cat behaviors by R-(−)-DOB.