title: Haloperidol treatments increased macrophage activity in male and female rats: influence of corticosterone and prolactin serum levels.
abstract: Haloperidol is a receptor D2 antagonist frequently used in the treatment of schizophrenic patients. Haloperidol increased prolactin release from anterior pituitary gland, and prolactin modulates immune system activity. Groups of six male and female rats received an acute 2 mg/kg haloperidol treatment (E1), or a long-term (E2) haloperidol treatments (2 mg/kg/day for 21 days); control rats were treated similarly, but with control solution (groups C1 and C2, respectively). In this work long-term haloperidol treatment (E2) increased macrophage spreading, phagocytosis and NO release in male and female rats. However, acute haloperidol treatment (E1) did not change macrophage activity. Corticosterone and prolactin serum levels were increased after acute (E1) and long-term (E2) haloperidol treatments in male and female rats, being this increment higher in female. Macrophage of male and female rats presented the same pattern of alterations after acute and long-term haloperidol treatments. Haloperidol-induced macrophage activation was discussed in the light of a possible indirect effect through prolactin increments in rats, or, alternatively, as a consequence of a direct action of macrophage dopamine receptor.
authors.affiliation: Applied Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. geaneal@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: V A C
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Dorce
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palermo-Neto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011388:Prolactin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D006220:Haloperidol; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D003345:Corticosterone