Measurement of an explosive behavior in the mouse, induced by MK-801, a PCP analogue

MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex that binds with high-affinity to the phencyclidine (PCP) binding site, stimulated an outbred strain of NIH Swiss mice to display discrete episodes of explosive jumping behavior, designated as "popping." The episodes of this behavior were characterized with respect to their dose dependency, latency, and duration. The number of mice displaying this behavior increased with increasing doses of MK-801. The intensity of the popping behavior was sensitive to dose-dependent inhibition by haloperidol, a conventional antipsychotic medication, and clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic medication. In view of PCP's ability to precipitate a schizophreniform psychosis in humans, the behavior may serve as a useful preclinical paradigm for the screening of potentially novel antipsychotic medications.