title: Prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex in pigs and its disruption by d-amphetamine.
abstract: Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex is an operational measure of sensorimotor gating. The dopamine receptor agonist-mediated disruption of PPI in rats is widely used as a model of the sensorimotor gating deficiencies demonstrated in schizophrenia patients. As a possible tool for validation of a pig model of psychosis, we wished to verify the existence of PPI in landrace pigs and investigate the potential disruption of PPI by d-amphetamine (AMPH) in these animals. PPI of the acoustic startle reflex and its potential disruption by AMPH were investigated using three doses 0.5-1.5mg/kg with a paradigm including two levels of prepulses (82 and 88dB) and a prepulse (PP) interval of 60 and 120ms. We found an average PPI of the startle reflex of 25.6% and both of the investigated PP intensities and PP intervals were equally effective in this PP-inhibitive paradigm. AMPH significantly disrupted PPI and, in spite of only the 0.5mg/kg dose proved statistically significant, the results indicate this to be dose-related. We have demonstrated the phenomenon of PPI of the startle reflex in landrace pigs and its disruption by d-amphetamine. Studies of sensorimotor gating defects could be a valuable additional tool in assessing pig models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, H:S Bispebjerg Hospital, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. nml@kvl.dk
authors.forename: Nanna M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: Sidse M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Arnfred
authors.forename: Ralf P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hemmingsen
authors.forename: Axel K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D003913:Dextroamphetamine