[The effect on rat behavior of phenamine contained in a cannula chronically implanted in the neostriatum].

Avoidance conditioning in a shuttle-box was studied in rats under conditions of daily three-week amphetamine microinjections (45 mcg) into the rostral striatum and in rats with chronically implanted intrastriatal amphetamine-containing cannulae (45 mgg/0.75 mcl). Amphetamine stimulatory behavioural effects were recorded in both groups of animals (improvement of avoidance conditioning, stereotyped hyperactivity etc.). The dopaminomimetic effects in rats with implanted cannulae were less expressed than in those with daily injections. High chemical stability of cannulated amphetamine was demonstrated by means of HPLC technique. Neurodegenerative changes were described in the loci of amphetamine administration similar to those in its long-lasting systemic injections. The methodological problems are discussed which are essential for neuropharmacological studies of behaviour.