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Haloperiodol-induced microcatalepsy differs in CD-1, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 mice
S C Fowler1, T J Zarcone, E Vorontsova
1Department of Human Development, Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045, USA. fowler@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
Abstract:
The degree of arrest of movement (microcatalepsy) induced by haloperidol at doses equipotent for operant rate suppression was measured with computerized instrumentation. The inbred C57BL/6 mouse strain displayed more susceptibility to microcatalepsy than the CD-1 and BALB/c strains. In addition, the C57BL/6 strain exhibited a greater degree of sensitization to repeated dosing than did the other 2 strains. The results were consistent with the C57BL/6 mouse's hypodopaminergic profile reported in the literature but were at odds with results reported for conventional catalepsy testing. The C57BL/6 mouse may serve as a model for genetic vulnerability to extrapyramidal motor side effects and may be useful in quantifying the mild extrapyramidal motor side effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs.
Insights
The C57BL/6 mouse strain shows higher susceptibility to haloperidol-induced microcatalepsy, a movement disorder. This strain may be a valuable model for studying genetic vulnerability to antipsychotic drug side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Genetics
Background:
- Extrapyramidal motor side effects are common adverse effects of antipsychotic medications.
- Mouse models are crucial for understanding the neurobiological basis of these side effects.
- Haloperidol is a typical antipsychotic known to induce motor side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the susceptibility of different inbred mouse strains to haloperidol-induced microcatalepsy.
- To investigate the potential of the C57BL/6 mouse strain as a model for extrapyramidal motor side effects.
Main Methods:
- Computerized instrumentation was used to measure microcatalepsy (arrest of movement) induced by haloperidol.
- Doses of haloperidol were equipotent for operant rate suppression across strains.
- Three mouse strains (C57BL/6, CD-1, BALB/c) were tested.
Main Results:
- The C57BL/6 mouse strain exhibited greater susceptibility to microcatalepsy compared to CD-1 and BALB/c strains.
- C57BL/6 mice showed increased sensitization to repeated haloperidol dosing.
- Findings align with the known hypodopaminergic profile of C57BL/6 mice but contrast with conventional catalepsy tests.
Conclusions:
- The C57BL/6 mouse strain is a sensitive model for haloperidol-induced microcatalepsy.
- This strain may be useful for modeling genetic vulnerability to extrapyramidal motor side effects.
- The C57BL/6 mouse can aid in quantifying mild motor side effects of novel antipsychotic drugs.