Excessive grooming behaviour is induced by intracerebroventricular injections of the neuropeptide glutamic acid isoleucine amide (neuropeptide-EI), via the activation of A-10 dopaminergic neurons and the noradrenergic system. Our object was to study the latter system involved in these behaviours, using male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g with i.c.v. implants. The results show that all the adrenoceptor antagonists "per se" do not affect excessive grooming behaviour or motor activity. Intracerebroventricular administration of propranolol, a general β-adrenoceptor antagonist, before neuropeptide-EI, inhibited the induced excessive grooming behaviour in a dose dependent manner. Metoprolol, a β1-adrenoceptor antagonist, also blocked this behaviour. However, intracerebroventricular injections of phentolamine, an α-adrenoceptor antagonist, and ((±)-1-[2,3-(Dihydro-7-methyl-1H-inden-4-yl)oxy]-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-butanol), a β2-adrenoceptor antagonist, had no effect on the behaviour induced by neuropeptide-EI induced behaviour for any of the doses tested. On the other hand, isoproterenol, a general β-adrenoceptor agonist and dobutamine, a β1-adrenoceptor agonist, both elicited similar behaviours as those induced by neuropeptide-EI. These results support the hypothesis that a relationship exists between neuropeptide-EI and β-adrenoceptors, more specifically the β1-adrenoceptor, as found with other similar endogenous peptides such as neurotensin, cholecystin, substance P and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone. Hence, neuropeptide-EI could probably be exerting a neuromodulating effect on the central nervous system. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fil: Sánchez Borzone, Mariela E.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Bacteriología y Virología Médica. Laboratorio de Ciencias Fisiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Attademo, Andres Maximiliano. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Bacteriología y Virología Médica. Laboratorio de Ciencias Fisiológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias. Laboratorio de Ecotoxicologia; ArgentinaFil: Baiardi, Gustavo Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Bacteriología y Virología Médica. Laboratorio de Ciencias Fisiológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Celis, María Ester. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Cátedra de Bacteriología y Virología Médica. Laboratorio de Ciencias Fisiológicas; Argentina