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Synergistic Effects of D_1/5 and 5-HT_1A/7 Receptor Agonists on Locomotor Movement Induction in Complete Spinal Cord–Transected Mice

¹Laval University Medical Centre; and ²Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada

Submitted 7 March 2008; accepted in final form 7 May 2008

Monoamines are well known to modulate locomotion in several vertebrate species. Coapplication of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) has also been shown to potently induce fictive locomotor rhythms in isolated spinal cord preparations. However, a synergistic contribution of these monoamines to locomotor rhythmogenesis in vivo has never been examined. Here, we characterized the effects induced by selective DA and 5-HT receptor agonists on hindlimb movement induction in completely spinal cord transected (adult) mice. Administration of the lowest effective doses of SKF-81297 (D_1/5 agonist, 1–2 mg/kg, ip) or 8-OH-DPAT (5-HT_1A/7 agonist, 0.5 mg/kg, ip) acutely elicited some locomotor-like movements (LM) (5.85 ± 1.22 and 3.67 ± 1.44 LM/min, respectively). Coadministration of the same doses of SKF-81297 and 8-OH-DPAT led to a significant increase (7- to 10-fold) of LM (37.70 ± 5.01 LM/min). Weight-bearing and plantar foot placement capabilities were also found with the combination treatment only (i.e., with no assistance or other forms of stimulation). These results clearly show that D_1/5 and 5-HT_1A/7 receptor agonists can synergistically activate spinal locomotor networks and thus generate powerful basic stepping movements in complete paraplegic animals. Although previous work from this laboratory has reported the partial rhythmogenic potential of monoamines in vivo, the present study shows that drug combinations such as SKF-81297 and 8-OH-DPAT can elicit weight-bearing stepping.