Behaviour and Monoamine Levels During Long‐Term Administration of Reserpine to Rabbits

Abstract Rabbits were injected with reserpine (0.1 and 0.2 mg per kg subcutaneously) daily for weeks. Noradrenaline, dopamine, and 5‐hydroxytryptamine were determined in the brain, nor‐adrenaline in the heart, and adrenaline in the adrenals. Most of the monoamines disappeared from the tissues during the first few weeks. Almost normal behaviour was observed in animals with very low monoamine levels. Thus the major part of the monoamine stores could be removed with but slight functional changes. The data suggested, however, a correlation between the remaining small fraction and behaviour.