Modification of drug-induced catatonia and tremors by quipazine in rats and mice.

Administration of perphenazine, tremorine, nicotine and harmine induced Parkinson-like symptoms in rats and mice. The efficacy of quipazine, a serotonin agonist, in antagonizing these drug-induced Parkinsonian symptoms was assessed. Combinations of this drug with other antiparkinsonian agents such as scopolamine, diphenhydramine and amantadine were also studied in the manifestation of Parkinson-like symptoms in the animal models. The results indicate that quipazine, a central serotonergic agent, counteracted some of the drug-induced symptoms of pseudoparkinsonism in laboratory animals. Cholinergic, dopaminergic and histaminergic receptors play an important role in the manifestations of these symptoms.