JUMPING ACTIVITY INDUCED BY SODIUM 5-(1,3-DIMETHYLBUTYL)-5-ETHYL BARBITURATE. I. THE ROLE OF THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

¹ Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, National Heart and Lung Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
² Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, National Heart and Lung Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryaland

A hitherto unobserved jumping activity was noted after the administration of subconvulsant doses of sodium 5-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-5-ethyl barbiturate (DMBEB) in young mice. Jumping rarely occurred after injections of saline, depressant barbiturates and central stimulants. The role of the sympathetic nervous system in DMBEB-induced jumping was evaluated. The jumping was accompanied by elevations in body temperature and plasma glucose. Chionisondamine, pempidine, propranolol and phentolamine blocked the hyperglycemia induced by DMBEB. d-Ampheta mine potentiated the jumping activity. Ganglionic blocking drugs (chlorisondamine and pempidine) and beta adrenergic blocking agents (propranolol and Kö 592) reduced or abolished this jumping without lowering brain levels of DMBEB. Except in high doses, the benzodiazepine anticonvulsants were ineffective. These findings suggest an important role of the sympathetic nervous system in DMBEB-induced jumping.