Neuroleptic-induced defecation in rats as a model for neuroleptic dysphoria.
Two groups of 32 rats were challenged in a well-habituated environment with haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg), haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg), domperidone (0.1 mg/kg), or saline to study the effect of these drugs on defecation--an index of emotionality--and voluntary movements in the 2 hours after the injection. The haloperidol-treated rats in the high-dose condition had significantly more bolus counts in the 2 hours after the injection than were observed in the groups treated with domperidone (a peripheral dopamine D2 receptor antagonist) or placebo. All movements were greatly reduced in the haloperidol-treated rats and, in this group, the ones with more bolus counts did not differ in their activity levels from those with fewer bolus counts. There was a trend for the rats that were less mobile at 10 minutes after the injection to produce more boli in the 2-hour period. Our study, therefore, replicates the findings of Sanberg (1980) and Russell et al. (1987a, 1987b) that haloperidol increases "emotional" defecation in rats in well-habituated environments, but the same model does not replicate the motor component of neuroleptic-induced akathisia seen in human subjects.
Sachdev
P
P
Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince Henry Hospital, Matraville, Australia.
Loneragan
C
C
Westbrook
F
F
D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004294:Domperidone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004294:Domperidone; D006220:Haloperidol