Oxidative stress-resistant cells are protected against haloperidol toxicity

The neuroleptic drug haloperidol is cytotoxic to cells of different origin in high doses. The mechanism of haloperidol toxicity may involve oxidative stress resulting in necrosis. In the present study, we show that rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell clones which were selected for resistance to the toxicity of the oxidative stressor amyloid beta-protein (A beta), were also resistant to haloperidol toxicity. This data strongly supports the causative involvement of free radicals in haloperidol-induced cell death.