Locomotor sensitization to quinpirole: environment-modulated increase in efficacy and context-dependent increase in potency

Abstract This study examines whether behavioural sensitization to the dopamine agonist, quinpirole, reflects an increase in the drug’s potency and/or efficacy to induce locomotion, and how these parameters are influenced by environmental context. Three experiments were conducted in which animals received either chronic quinpirole (10×0.5 mg/kg, twice weekly) or saline injections in either the home cage environment, an alternate environment or …