Antipsychotic lurasidone: Behavioural and pharmacokinetic data in C57BL/6 mice

Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic that has been shown to be effective in reversing schizophrenia-related cognitive impairment. The development of new preclinical models of schizophrenia is a key for improving treatments of cognitive symptoms. This study investigated the effects of chronic lurasidone treatment in C57BL/6 male mice via intraperitoneal injection (1 mg/kg daily at 5 p.m. for 5 weeks). A large battery of behavioural tests was performed (between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.), which is currently used to assess face validity in animal models of psychiatric diseases. Overall, lurasidone did not interfere with behavioural performances, which characterises very good tolerance to such a high dose. Moreover, pharmacokinetic parameters after i.p. and oral administration were measured. Mean transit time (MTT) values were 1.91 h (1 mg/kg acute i.p.) and 1.74 h (8.3 mg/kg acute oral), respectively, and relative bioavailability comparing these two routes of administration was of 19.8%. This last result gives important data to adapt oral chronic administration of lurasidone with a more ethical perspective in comparison with chronic i.p. injections. This study brings tools to improve pharmacological validity of preclinical models of psychiatric diseases, and to adapt dosage of antipsychotics according to the route used.