The role of catecholamines in behavioral arousal during ontogenesis

Effect of catecholamine depletion on normal hyperactivity in the neonatal rat was examined. Both -methyl-para-tyrosine and reserpine significantly depressed behavioral arousal at 15 days postpartum, the age of greatest excitability. Heightened activity could be restored in drug-treated animals by administration of l-Dopa. These results indicate that the ontogenetic hyperactivity effect is a result of accelerated catecholamine function.This work was supported in part by National Institute of Mental Health Grants MH01562 and MH08501 to Byron A. Campbell.