Rat pups suspended in air and administered L-DOPA engage in a locomotor behavior 
termed air-stepping. The role of L-DOPA itself was investigated by administering 
several doses of an aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, NSD 1015, 
prior to 100 mg/kg L-DOPA to 5-day-old rats. NSD 1015 dose-dependently increased 
the latency to onset and decreased the duration of L-DOPA-induced air-stepping. 
Thus L-DOPA induces air-stepping only after its conversion to dopamine and/or 
noradrenaline.