title: Effects of antipsychotics and amphetamine on social behaviors in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: We have recently reported that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) exhibit a deficit in contextual fear conditioning that is specifically reversed by antipsychotic and potentiated by psychostimulants and other manipulations thought to produce schizophrenia-like states in rodents. Based on these findings, we suggested that this deficit in fear conditioning could be used as an experimental model of emotional processing impairments observed in schizophrenia. This strain has also been suggested as a model by which to study attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Considering that schizophrenia and ADHD are both characterized by poor social function, this study aimed to investigate possible behavioral deficits of SHRs in a social context. Furthermore, we sought to examine the effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics (used for the treatment of schizophrenia) and a psychostimulant (used to treat ADHD) on these behaviors. Pairs of unfamiliar rats of the same or different (i.e., Wistar) strains were treated with one of the aforementioned drugs and placed in an open-field for 10min. During this time, social behaviors, locomotion and rearing frequencies were scored. Atypical antipsychotics increased social interaction in Wistar rats (WRs) and improved the deficit in social interaction exhibited by SHRs. In addition, the SHR group displayed hyperlocomotion that was attenuated by all antipsychotics (quetiapine and clozapine also decreased locomotion in WRs) and potentiated by amphetamine (which also increased locomotion in WRs). Our results reveal that the behavioral profile of the SHR group demonstrates that this strain can be a useful animal model to study several aspects of schizophrenia.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 5° andar, Ed. de Pesquisas II, CEP 04039-032, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Mariana Bendlin
authors: MB
authors: Calzavara
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Levin
authors: Wladimir Agostini
authors: WA
authors: Medrano
authors: Valéria
authors: V
authors: Almeida
authors: Antônio Pereira Fróis
authors: AP
authors: Sampaio
authors: Lucas Cerqueira
authors: LC
authors: Barone
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Frussa-Filho
authors: Vanessa Costhek
authors: VC
authors: Abílio
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000661:Amphetamine