title: Using the five-choice serial reaction time task to examine the effects of atomoxetine and methylphenidate in the male spontaneously hypertensive rat.
abstract: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder and is normally treated with either stimulant or non-stimulant medication such as methylphenidate and atomoxetine respectively. The impact of these drugs on attention and impulsivity has been explored extensively in healthy animals but there is little research into their effects in an animal model of ADHD. In the present study we investigated the effects of both drugs on the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of ADHD using the five-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT). We found a number of difficulties associated with training this vulnerable strain on such a complex task. However, where rats were able to learn the task we found very small effects of methylphenidate; increased incorrect responding and therefore decreased accuracy, a marker of attention at a single dose. There were no significant effects of atomoxetine on accuracy once multiple comparisons were taken into consideration. We found no effects of either drug on premature responding, a marker of impulsivity. These results indicate that the 5CSRTT may not be most sensitive to the impulsivity displayed in the SHR. Furthermore, they suggest that the SHR may lack predictive validity and further investigation is needed to optimise use of this model.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Dept of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, Biomedical Research Network, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK. Electronic address: ellie.dommett@open.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Eleanor J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Dommett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011437:Propylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011930:Reaction Time
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D011437:Propylamines; D008774:Methylphenidate; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride
keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder