Central action of psychomotor stimulants on glucose utilization in extrapyramidal motor areas of the rat brain.
Psychomotor stimulants increase regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (rCMRglc). To determine if effects in motor areas reflect limb movements, we measured rCMRglc in gallamine-paralyzed rats given cocaine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, amphetamine, or phencyclidine. Results resembled findings in partially immobilized rats. One difference was lack of cocaine-induced stimulation in the caudate-putamen despite an increase in partially immobilized rats. Therefore, stimulant-induced rCMRglc stimulation in most motor areas is a primary CNS effect.