Effects of four antipsychotics on punished responding in rats

In Experiment 1, the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide (CDP), two typical antipsychotics, haloperidol (HAL) and chlorpromazine (CPZ), and the atypical antipsychotic clozapine (CLZ) were evaluated for antipunishment effects in rats in a modified Geller-Seifter conflict procedure [MULT fixed interval (FI) 60-s, fixed ratio (FR) 1 (food + shock)]. In Experiment 2, CDP and thioridazine (THD) were similarly tested. CLZ (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg), but not HAL, CPZ, or THD, selectively increased punished responding, although the magnitude of effect was smaller than that observed for CDP. Possible serotonergic mechanisms for CLZ's action in this model and the possible importance of serotonergic activity for the development of other atypical antipsychotic drugs are discussed.