Differences in behavioral responses to oxotremorine and physostigmine in New Zealand black (NZB/B1NJ) and C57BL/6 mice

The NZB/B1NJ (NZB) mice are an autoimmune-prone strain, known to develop brain-reactive antibodies in serum at much earlier chronological ages than normal mice. Measurement of locomotor activity in 8-10 month old C57BL/6 (C57) mice following the administration of either oxotremorine or physostigmine, revealed a biphasic response consisting of inhibition at small doses, but increased motor activity at large doses. In contrast, age-matched NZB mice exhibited little inhibition at the smaller doses, but had much greater increases in activity after the larger doses. Similarly, when compared to C57 mice, NZB mice were less sensitive to oxotremorine-induced salivation, diarrhea and visible tremors. Moreover, oxotremorine-induced hypothermia occurred at smaller doses in C57 mice than in NZB mice and was of a greater magnitude. Thus, at an age when NZB mice possess high levels of brain-reactive antibodies, and exhibit impairment in tests of learning/memory, these mice also show diminished responses in several tests of cholinomimetic-induced behavior and physiological alterations.