Neuroleptic-induced defecation in rats as a model for neuroleptic dysphoria.

Abstract

Two groups of 32 rats were challenged in a well-habituated environment with haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg), haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg), domperidone (0.1 mg/kg), or saline to study the effect of these drugs on defecation--an index of emotionality--and voluntary movements in the 2 hours after the injection. The haloperidol-treated rats in the high-dose condition had significantly more bolus counts in the 2 hours after the injection than were observed in the groups treated with domperidone (a peripheral dopamine D2 receptor antagonist) or placebo. All movements were greatly reduced in the haloperidol-treated rats and, in this group, the ones with more bolus counts did not differ in their activity levels from those with fewer bolus counts. There was a trend for the rats that were less mobile at 10 minutes after the injection to produce more boli in the 2-hour period. Our study, therefore, replicates the findings of Sanberg (1980) and Russell et al. (1987a, 1987b) that haloperidol increases "emotional" defecation in rats in well-habituated environments, but the same model does not replicate the motor component of neuroleptic-induced akathisia seen in human subjects.

• Authors: P Sachdev, C Loneragan, F Westbrook
• Journal: Psychiatry research (Psychiatry Res) Vol. 47 Issue 1 Pg. 37-45 (Apr 1993) ISSN: 0165-1781 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 8100080 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Domperidone
• Haloperidol

Topics

• Animals
• Antipsychotic Agents (pharmacology)
• Arousal (drug effects)
• Defecation (drug effects)
• Domperidone (pharmacology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Emotions (drug effects)
• Haloperidol (pharmacology)
• Male
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar