title: The effects of the atypical antipsychotic asenapine in a strain-specific battery of tests for mania-like behaviors.
abstract: Asenapine is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and manic episodes in bipolar disorder (BPD). There is a paucity of information on the effects of asenapine in animal models of BPD, but such work is essential to discover its scope of effects and its mechanisms of therapeutic action. This study evaluated the effects of asenapine in a validated test battery for manic-like behaviors in Black Swiss mice. Male Black Swiss mice received asenapine at 0.03, 0.1, and 0.3 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days and were tested for spontaneous activity, sweet solution preference, forced-swim test, social interaction, and amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. Asenapine treatment resulted in dose-dependent, clinically relevant plasma levels. Asenapine, at the 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg doses, reduced activity, with the 0.3 mg/kg dose also resulting in increased time in the center of an open field, increased immobility in the forced-swim test, and reduced amphetamine-induced hyperactivity. Asenapine exerted no effects in the social interaction or sweet solution preference tests. The results suggest that asenapine exerts antimanic-like effects in some of the behavioral tests performed in Black Swiss mice. These data support the utilization of asenapine in the treatment of BPD.
authors.affiliation: aSchool of Behavioral Sciences, Tel-Aviv Yaffo Academic College bDepartment of Psychology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv cDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel dDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Hila M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ene
authors.forename: Nirit Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Einat
mesh_terms: D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D059445:Anhedonia / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; D000661:Amphetamine; D012439:Saccharin; C522667:asenapine