Effect of chronic haloperidol on electrical parameters of command neurons in Helix Lucorum

We studied the effects of neuroleptic haloperidol on electric characteristics (resting potential, action potential threshold, and critical level of depolarization) of command neurons LPa3, RPa3, LPa2, and RPa2 responsible for defense behavior in edible snail Helix Lucorum. Chronic administration of haloperidol led to hyperpolarization shift of the membrane potential and increased the threshold of action potential in these neurons. The data indicate a new possible mechanism of sedative action of neuroleptics based on hyperpolarization of some cerebral neurons, in particular, neurons responsible for some behavioral functions.