The higher the dose, the greater the sex differences in escape-avoidance response in mice after acute administration of haloperidol.
Sex differences in the effects of haloperidol in the escape-avoidance response have previously been found in various studies carried out in our laboratory in which mice were used as experimental subjects. Males were more affected than females by the disruptive effects of this neuroleptic of frequent clinical use. In the present work these sex differences were evaluated in a unique training session using several doses of the drug (0.075, 0.25, and 0.75 mg/kg i.p.). The number of avoidances, escapes, nonresponses, crossings during the adaptation period, crossings during intertrial intervals, and response latencies were analyzed. Statistically significant sex differences were found in the number of escapes and nonresponses: males showed fewer escape responses and more nonresponses than females. These sex differences were dose dependent: a positive correlation was obtained between doses of haloperidol and sex differences observed in the number of escapes and nonresponses. The higher the dose, the greater the sex differences. These are related not only to the impairment of motor activity, because no sex differences were found in the number of crossings during the adaptation period and intertrial intervals.
Monleón
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Area de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Spain.
Parra
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A
D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol