The preventative role of antioxidants (selegiline and vitamin E) in a rat model of tardive dyskinesia.
BACKGROUND
We examined the potential protective effects of two potent antioxidants, selegiline and vitamin E, in a rodent model of tardive dyskinesia (TD), viz. neuroleptic-induced spontaneous orofacial movements.


METHODS
Rats were treated with fortnightly injections of fluphenazine decanoate for 12 weeks, and examined at baseline and at fortnightly intervals for vacuous chewing movements, mouth tremors and tongue protrusions.


RESULTS
The administration of fluphenazine led to a progressive increase of all three types of orofacial movements. In the first study, the impact of the concomitant administration of selegiline on orofacial movements was examined. Selegiline led to a reduction in orofacial movements in neuroleptic-treated rats to the level of control rats not being administered a neuroleptic drug. In the second study, rats were fed diets either high or low in their vitamin E content. High and low vitamin E diets did not significantly affect neuroleptic-induced orofacial movements.


CONCLUSIONS
Our studies provide some support for the hypothesis that oxidative injury may play a role in the genesis of neuroleptic-induced movement disorder, and prompt further examination of this hypothesis in both animals and humans.
Sachdev
P
P
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Saharov
T
T
Cathcart
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005609:Free Radicals; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012642:Selegiline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005609:Free Radicals; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D012642:Selegiline; C011825:fluphenazine depot; D005476:Fluphenazine