Enhancement of antipsychotic-like properties of the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride, by the additional treatment with the 5-HT2 receptor blocking agent, ritanserin, in the rat.
The effects of 5-HT2 receptor blockade on the ability of a dopamine (DA) D2 receptor antagonist to produce suppression of conditioned avoidance response (CAR) and to produce catalepsy in rats were examined. It was found that ritanserin (2 mg kg-1 s.c.) enhanced the raclopride (0.1 mg kg-1 s.c.)-induced suppression of CAR without affecting raclopride-induced catalepsy at either maximal (4 mg kg-1 s.c.) or submaximal (0.2 mg kg-1 s.c.) doses. Considering the CAR performance as an index of mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic functions, it is concluded that 5-HT2 receptor blockade confers a limbic profile on the DA D2 receptor antagonist.
Wadenberg
M L
ML
Department of Behavioral and Biochemical Pharmacology, Astra Arcus AB, Södertälje, Sweden.
Salmi
P
P
Jimenez
P
P
Svensson
T
T
Ahlenius
S
S
D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D008297:Male; D020891:Raclopride; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016713:Ritanserin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012457:Salicylamides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D012457:Salicylamides; D016713:Ritanserin; D020891:Raclopride