Central and peripheral minocycline suppresses motor activity in rats

Minocycline (MIN) HCl is a tetracycline derivative previously shown to inhibit agonist-induced accumulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in vitro and suppress motor activity and amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in rats following SC injection. The present study examined the effect of IV and intracerebral MIN on baseline activity and amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. IV MIN suppressed both types of activity in doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg. When injected ICV, MIN (50 μg/2 μl) suppressed the increase in rearing elicited by amphetamine but did not affect baseline activity. MIN did not attenuate the behavioral suppression induced by the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram. MIN apparently has centrally mediated effects on motor activity in rats; however, it is not yet possible to associate MIN's behavioral effects with its ability to inhibit agonist-induced stimulation of cAMP.