Oxidative stress and thiol modification induced by chronic administration of haloperidol

Haloperidol, a widely used neuroleptic, acts through blockade of dopamine receptors leading to increased turnover of dopamine. Increased turnover of dopamine could lead to excessive production of hydrogen peroxide and, thus, generate oxidative stress. The effect of chronic administration of haloperidol on glutathione (GSH)-protein thiol homeostasis and lipid peroxidation was examined in rat brain regions. The oxidized GSH levels increased significantly, though not substantially, in cortex (CT, 15%), striatum (ST, 28%) and midbrain (MB, 27%). Maximal decreases in GSH levels were noted in CT (23%), ST (28%) and MB (20%) after 1 month of haloperidol administration. The GSH levels recovered thereafter, and after 6 months of haloperidol treatment, the GSH levels were not significantly different from control in ST and MB. The depleted GSH was recovered essentially as protein-GSH mixed disulfide with a concomitant decrease in the protein thiol concentration in all the three regions of the brain. The increase in oxidized GSH concentration represented only 1.8, 2.0 and 3.5% of the depleted GSH in the CT, ST and MB after 1 month of haloperidol administration. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive products increased significantly up to 3 months of haloperidol treatment, but at the end of 6 months, the levels were substantially decreased. The present study demonstrates that haloperidol administration for 1 month results in significant oxidative stress in CT, ST and MB regions of the brain, as demonstrated by alterations in GSH-protein thiol homeostasis and increased lipid peroxidation products. However, after prolonged administration of haloperidol for 6 months, the GSH-protein thiol homeostasis is restored to a large extent, concomitant with the decrease in the concentration of lipid peroxidation products. Administration of haloperidol leads to development of tolerance (supersensitivity of the dopamine autoreceptors) to neuroleptics, which is associated with decreased turnover of dopamine; this may result in overcoming the oxidative stress generated initially due to increased dopamine turnover.