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Updated: May 25, 2026

Self-Administration of Drugs in Mouse Models of Feeding and Obesity
Published on: June 8, 2021
α 2-Adrenoreceptor antagonism may contribute to the atypical properties of risperidone: experimental support for the
L J Herberg1, A M Montgomery, A J Grottick
1Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG.
Abstract:
The therapeutic efficacy and reduction in side effects claimed for new antischizophrenic drugs such as clozapine and risperidone have been ascribed to their heightened affinity for serotonin 5-HT(2) receptors rather than D-2 receptors. A case for α(2)-adrenoreceptor antagonism has recently been argued. We have confirmed that at least one atypical property of risperidone (a rapid decrement in its ability to depress self-stimulation) can be partly prevented by an α(2)-adrenoreceptor agonist (clonidine) but not by a 5-HT( 2) receptor agonist (DOI). This result supports the suggested role of α( 2)-adrenoreceptor antagonism in counteracting extrapyramidal effects during treatment with risperidone.
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