Modulation of high impulsivity and attentional performance in rats by selective direct and indirect dopaminergic and noradrenergic receptor agonists

RATIONALE: Impulsivity is associated with a number of psychiatric disorders, most notably attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Drugs that augment catecholamine function (e.g. methylphenidate and the selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine) have clinical efficacy in ADHD, but their precise mechanism of action is unclear.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the relative contribution of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) to the therapeutic effects of clinically effective drugs in ADHD using rats selected for high impulsivity on the five-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT).

METHODS: We examined the effects of direct and indirect DA and NA receptor agonists and selective DA and NA reuptake inhibitors in rats showing high and low levels of impulsivity on the 5CSRTT (designated high impulsive 'HI' and low impulsive 'LI', respectively). Drugs were administered by systemic injection in a randomized, counterbalanced manner.

RESULTS: Low doses of quinpirole (a D2/D3 agonist) and sumanirole (a D2 agonist) selectively reduced impulsivity on the 5CSRTT, whilst higher doses resulted in increased omissions and slower response latencies. The NA reuptake inhibitor, atomoxetine, and the alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonist, guanfacine, dose dependently decreased premature responding. The dopaminergic reuptake inhibitor GBR-12909 increased impulsivity, whereas the nonselective DA and NA reuptake inhibitor methylphenidate had no significant effect on impulsive responses in HI and LI rats.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that high impulsivity can be ameliorated in rats by drugs that mimic the effects of DA and NA, just as in ADHD, and that activation of D2/3 receptors selectively decreases high impulsivity on the 5CSRTT.