Enhancement of antipsychotic-like properties of the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride, by the additional treatment with the 5-HT2 receptor blocking agent, ritanserin, in the rat

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1996 Nov;6(4):305-10. doi: 10.1016/s0924-977x(96)00035-1.

Abstract

The effects of 5-HT2 receptor blockade on the ability of a dopamine (DA) D2 receptor antagonist to produce suppression of conditioned avoidance response (CAR) and to produce catalepsy in rats were examined. It was found that ritanserin (2 mg kg-1 s.c.) enhanced the raclopride (0.1 mg kg-1 s.c.)-induced suppression of CAR without affecting raclopride-induced catalepsy at either maximal (4 mg kg-1 s.c.) or submaximal (0.2 mg kg-1 s.c.) doses. Considering the CAR performance as an index of mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic functions, it is concluded that 5-HT2 receptor blockade confers a limbic profile on the DA D2 receptor antagonist.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Avoidance Learning / drug effects*
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Synergism
  • Male
  • Raclopride
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Ritanserin / pharmacology*
  • Salicylamides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Salicylamides
  • Ritanserin
  • Raclopride