Action of a chronic arecoline administration on mouse motility and on acetylcholine concentrations in the CNS.

— The modifications of mouse motility and of the levels of acetylcholine (ACh) in two sections of the CNS caused by a chronic administration of 4.5; 9.5; 28.5 and 60 mg kg-−1 day−1 of arecoline for 20 days have been studied. At low doses (4.5 and 9.5 mg kg−1 day−1), arecoline caused no modification of the ACh levels and of the motility. The higher doses (28.5 and 60 mg kg−1 day−1) caused a reduction of the mouse motility and an increase of the ACh levels in the subcortical structures of the CNS of the mouse.