Some behavioural effects of quinine in mice
Authors: Wambebe Charles , Sokomba Elijah , Amabeoku George J. 
Published: March 2007

The effects of quinine on motor activity, pentobarbitone-induced sleep and gross behaviour were examined in mice. Low doses of quinine (0.1-0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) increased locomotor activity in mice; this effect was potentiated by L-dopa (25 mg/kg sub cutaneously), L-dopa (25 mg/kg subcutaneously) plus benserazide (12.5 mg/kg subcutaneously) and pargyline (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and antagonized by α-methyl- p-tyrosine (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally), pimozide (0.2 mg/kg intraperitoneally), L-sulpiride (40 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and SCH 23390 (0.2 mg/kg subcutaneously). Similarly, D-amphet amine (2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally)-induced locomotor activity in mice was blocked by pimo zide (0.2 mg/kg intraperitoneally). On the other hand, pimozide (0.2 mg/kg intraperitoneally), L-sulpiride (40 mg/kg intraperitoneally and SCH 23390 (0.2 mg/kg subcutaneously) potentiated the locomotor depressant effect of high doses of quinine (1-5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally). Furthermore, the onset and duration of pentobarbitone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneally)-induced sleep were respectively shortened and prolonged in a dose-dependent manner. D-Amphet amine (25 mg/kg intraperitoneally) significantly delayed the onset and shortened the duration of sleep induced by the interaction of quinine (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) with pen tobarbitone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneally). L-sulpiride (40 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and pimozide (4 mg/kg intraperitoneally), on the other hand, significantly shortened the onset and prolonged the duration of sleep resulting from the interaction of quinine with pentobarbitone. The antagonism of pentobarbitone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneally)-induced sleep by D-amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was prevented by pimozide (4 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Quinine (0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) desynchronized the EEG and antagonized pentobarbitone (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally)-induced EEG synchronization while 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally of quinine desynchronized the hyperstriatum with marked decrease in EMG activity in chicks and potentiated pentobarbitone (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally)-induced EEG synchronization with profound reduction in EMG activity. Quinine (0.01-5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) exhibited a biphasic dose-related increase in circling. The stereotyped circling induced by D-amphetamine (4 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was dose-dependently reduced by quinine (0.5-25 mg/kg intra peritoneally) while 0.05-0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally of quinine weakly potentiated this activity. Pimozide (4 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and L-sulpiride (40 mg/kg intraperitoneally) antagonized both the circling and increase in locomotor activity induced by quinine (0.1 mg/kg intra peritoneally) and D-amphetamine (4 mg/kg intraperitoneally) respectively. These results indi cate that quinine exhibits both excitatory and inhibitory effects on the gross behaviour of mice; these biphasic effects were dose-related. Since pimozide, L-sulpiride and SCH 23390 influenced both effects, both D 1 and D2 receptors may be involved in the behavioural effects of quinine.