GABAergic, dopaminergic and cholinergic interactions in perphenazine-induced catatonia in rats.

Anticatatonic effects of systemic and intracerebroventricularly administered GABAergic agents (GABA, muscimol piracetam, sod. valproate) were studied in rats against perphenazine-induced catatonia. All GABAergic agents, except piracetam, were found to posses anticatatonic actions as they significantly blocked perphenazine-induced catatonia. When these GABAergic agents were administered simultaneously with anticholinergic (scopolamine) or dopaminergic (bromocriptine) substances there was potentiation of the anticatatonic effect. The protective effect of GABAergic agonists and GABA antagonist and its modification by anticholinergic and dopaminergic agents has been explained on the basis of neurotransmitter interaction.