Simultaneous catalepsy and apomorphine-induced stereotypic behavior in mice

Area of Science:

• Neuropharmacology
• Animal Models of Neurological Disorders

Background:

• Haloperidol and chlorpromazine cause catalepsy and block apomorphine stereotypy when administered intraventricularly.
• Other cataleptogenic drugs, like domperidone, sulpiride, and spiperone, have differential effects on apomorphine-induced behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential effects of intraventricularly administered drugs on animal behavior.
• To explore a potential animal model for conditions involving both catalepsy and stereotypy.

Main Methods:

• Intraventricular administration of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, domperidone, sulpiride, and spiperone in mice.
• Assessment of catalepsy induction and apomorphine-induced stereotypic behaviors (sniffing, climbing, gnawing, licking).

Main Results:

• Haloperidol and chlorpromazine induced catalepsy and blocked apomorphine stereotypy.
• Domperidone, sulpiride, and spiperone also induced catalepsy but augmented apomorphine stereotypy, causing persistent gnawing and licking even during catalepsy.
• Normal apomorphine-induced behaviors were observed before catalepsy and after recovery.

Conclusions:

• The study differentiates the behavioral effects of antipsychotics based on their ability to block or augment apomorphine-induced stereotypy.
• This differential effect provides a potential animal model relevant to the clinical observation of co-occurring tardive dyskinesia and drug-induced Parkinsonism.