Abstract

Intracerebral manganese administration together with the DT-diaphorase inhibitor dicoumarol (Mn3+ 40 nmol+-dicoumarol 2 nmol; in 4 ?l) into the left medial forebrain bundle (MFB) produced a behavioural pattern characterised by contralateral behaviour when the rats were stimulated with apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.), in a manner similar to that when administered to unilaterally 6-hydroxy-dopamine-lesioned animals. The same animals rotated towards the opposite side (ipsilaterally) when stimulated with d-amphetamine (2 mg/kg s.c.). These results support the idea that DT-diaphorase plays a protective role in the dopaminergic systems.