Haloperidol does not antagonize the effects of stress on aggressive behaviour in mice

Effects of SCH 23390, raclopride, and haloperidol on morphine withdrawal-induced aggression in male mice

Dopamine seems to play a very important role in aggressive behavior observed in morphine withdrawal. The effect of SCH 23390 (0.5 mg/kg), raclopride (0.3 mg/kg), and haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) on morphine withdrawal-induced aggression has been studied in this work. Mice were rendered dependent by a daily injection of morphine (2.5 mg/kg) for 14 days. Three different experiments were carried out with the objective to evaluate the antiaggressive effect of the dopamine antagonists on: first, spontaneous morphine withdrawal; second, naloxone-induced withdrawal; and third, naloxone-induced withdrawal after previous administration of the neuroleptics. Thirty minutes after injection of the dopamine antagonists, experimental animals were confronted in a neutral area with anosmic, group-housed conspecifics (standard opponents), and aggression was evaluated by estimation of times allocated to 11 different behavioral categories. Morphine withdrawal produced an increase in aggressive behavior and a decrease in social and nonsocial behaviors. The three neuroleptics counteracted this aggression, but when SCH 23390 (selective D1 antagonist) and haloperidol (mixed D1/D2 antagonist) were administered in naloxone-induced withdrawal, the effect was greater in comparison to the spontaneous withdrawal. However, no changes were observed after raclopride administration (selective D2 antagonist). In conclusion, the alterations in the dopaminergic system produced by opiate withdrawal depend on the type of withdrawal produced, and this produces a change in the antiaggressive potency of the dopamine antagonists.

Effects of haloperidol on communicative and aggressive behavior in male mice with different experiences of aggression

Effects of two doses of haloperidol (0.1 and 0.4 mg/kg, 30 min and 24 h, IP) on communicative and aggressive behavior in C57BL/6J male mice have been studied. Some of the mice were without prior experience of aggression ("recruits"); the others had been victorious in 20 daily aggressive confrontations ("experienced winners"). Communicative behavior was estimated as the behavioral reaction to a standard tester (loser) in the partition test. Haloperidol in either dose significantly reduced communicative behavior in the "recruits." but not in the "experienced winners." Significantly fewer attacks, less total attacking time, and total time of aggressive behavior (aggressive grooming + attacks) were demonstrated by the "experiences winners," than by the "recruits," while the latency of the first attack, the number, the total and average duration of aggressive grooming events were significantly higher. In the "recruits," haloperidol dose dependently increased the latency and decreased the number of attacks, the total attacking time, and the total time of aggressive behavior 30 min and 24 h after injection. However, haloperidol did not affect the average or total time of aggressive grooming. Neither dose significantly affected any measure of aggressive behavior in the "experienced winners." It has been concluded that repeated aggression experience reduces the pharmacological sensitivity of the dopamine receptors.

Effects of risperidone and SCH 23390 on isolation-induced aggression in male mice

In this study, the antiaggressive effects of risperidone and SCH 23390 have been explored. Using the paradigm of isolation-induced aggression, 150 albino male mice of the OF1 strain were allocated to control and experimental groups which received three doses of risperidone (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) or two doses of SCH 23390 (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg). Only the highest doses of risperidone decreased threat and attack behaviours but all doses significantly impaired motor behaviour. SCH 23390 decreased attack with the two doses used and also produced significant increases in immobility. Although both antipsychotics are antiaggressive, this action seems to be more specific in the case of risperidone. Finally, both drugs failed to affect animals with short attack latency, being antiaggressive only in subjects with long attack latency, which suggests that these two types of animals are different in their dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission.

Interaction of morphine and haloperidol on agonistic and motor behaviors of male mice

To further clarify the interaction between opioid and dopaminergic systems, the effects of simultaneous administration of morphine hydrochloride (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg) and haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) on aggressive behavior of male mice were explored. Isolated male mice (experimental animals) were confronted in a neutral area with anosmic, group-housed consepecifics (standard opponents) 30 min after injection of both compounds, and aggression was evaluated by estimation of times allocated to 11 different behavioral categories. In the first experiment (which functioned as a pilot study), the two doses of morphine were explored. In the second one, incorporating a more complete experimental design, only the lowest morphine dose was used and the animals were preselected by a previous aggression test. In attack behavior, morphine added to haloperidol counteracted, at least partially, the antiaggressive effect of the neuroleptic. In contrast, the impairing effects of haloperidol on motor activity were increased by the addition of morphine. These results show that the behavioral effects of dopaminergic antagonists are modulated by opioid influences and that opiates and dopaminergic agents interact in a different manner on motor and on aggressive behaviors.

Acute and subchronic effects of tiapride on isolation-induced aggression in male mice

Although the antiaggressive properties of several atypical neuroleptics are known, the actions of tiapride (a selective dopaminergic D2-receptor antagonist) on agonistic behavior have not been explored and there are no studies comparing acute and subchronic effects of this compound on aggression in rodents. In this work, the effects of tiapride (20-100 mg/kg, IP), administered acutely or subchronically for 10 days, on agonistic behaviour elicited by isolation in male mice were examined. Individually housed mice were exposed to anosmic "standard opponents" 30 min after drug administration, and the encounters were videotaped and evaluated using an ethologically based analysis. Tiapride decreased time spent in offenssive behaviors significantly, without an impairment of motor activity (60 and 80 mg/kg). Moreover, no tolerance to tiapride antiaggressive activity was observed after repeated administration of the drug. On the contrary, the action on immobility showed a clear tolerance development with repeated injections (100 mg/kg). The divergence found in the temporal course of tolerance to tiapride in its antiaggressive and motor effects is discussed.

Behavioral profile of raclopride in agonistic encounters between male mice

Raclopride is a substituted benzamide with high selectivity as an antagonist of central dopaminergic D2 receptors and potential antipsychotic effects. In comparison with a classic DA receptor blocking agent like haloperidol, raclopride displays an atypical profile in preclinical tests for extrapyramidal side effects. Antiaggressive properties of raclopride on agonistic behavior have not yet been fully explored. In this work the effects of raclopride (0.1, 0.3, or 0.6 mg/kg) on aggressive and motor behaviors in male mice were studied. Aggression tests were performed 30 min after injections. Encounters were videotaped and behavior was evaluated, measuring the time spent in 11 broad categories of behavior. The results show a clear antiaggressive effect of raclopride, with very little motor impairment and some increase in exploratory behavior. This behavioral profile is very similar to the one observed with other atypical neuroleptics and differs somewhat from that found in the classic compounds.

Antiaggressive and motor effects of haloperidol show different temporal patterns in the development of tolerance

The study of the temporal course of tolerance development was used as a means to separate different aspects of the action of haloperidol on social behavior. Agonistic behavior was studied in isolated male mice that confronted standard opponents (anosmic and grouped conspecifics) in a neutral area. The aggressive and motor behaviors of the experimental animals were evaluated 30 min or 24 h either after a single injection of haloperidol (0.4 mg/kg) or following the last of a series of 15 or 30 injections. When animals were evaluated 30 min after the haloperidol injection, no tolerance to the antiaggressive effects was evident. The action on immobility, on the contrary, showed a clear tolerance development with repeated drug administration, both with 15 and 30 injections. When evaluated 24 h after the last injection, tolerance to the antiaggressive effects developed with repeated injections. Increased immobility was never found in the tests carried out after 24 h, not even in the single injection group. The clear divergence found in the temporal courses of tolerance to haloperidol in its antiaggressive and motor effects suggests that these actions are mediated through different neurophysiological mechanisms. A parallel with extrapyramidal and therapeutic effects is discussed.

Effects of single and repeated restraint on the social behavior of male rats

The effects of a mild, nonpainful stressor (restraint, RT) on the social behavior of male rats were explored. Twenty-four hours after single or repeated RT, experimental subjects were confronted in a neutral cage with unfamiliar and naive opponents of the same sex and strain, matched for age and body weight. Introductory, affiliative, defensive, and offensive behaviors of the experimental animals were recorded for 20 min. Single RT caused a selective and dramatic inhibition of aggressive behavior, with no effects on defense. Allo-grooming, considered to be an appeasing and affiliative behavior, increased. Repeated RT caused basically the same effects, with an additional increase in retreat, a low-intensity defensive behavior, and attend, possibly aimed at monitoring the unfamiliar partner. Habituation to repeated stress, therefore, did not occur, and the behavioral consequences of repeated RT were even greater than those of single stress. Additional tests of sexual behavior failed to reveal any deficit in sexual performance after single or repeated RT.

Effects of two selective dopaminergic antagonists on ethologically-assessed encounters in male mice

1. Although it is accepted that dopaminergic antagonists suppress aggressive behaviour, the drugs used have been relatively non-selective or specific to the D2 receptor. 2. The selective D1 antagonist, SCH 23390, makes it possible to evaluate the impact of this receptor on aggressive behaviour. 3. The effects of SCH 23390 and Spiperone (a D2 antagonist) on the aggressive behaviour of mice were assessed employing a "standard opponent" test. 4. Both drugs markedly decreased aggressive behaviour whilst increasing immobility. However, whilst SCH 23390 increased immobility to a small extent, Spiperone, produced a general decline in active behaviours. 5. It appears that the D1 receptor inhibition of aggression is the more specific.

Clozapine: strong antiaggressive effects with minimal motor impairment

Clinical studies have shown clozapine to be effective in the treatment of schizophrenia and associated with an extremely low incidence of extrapiramidal side effects. Diverse studies indicate that clozapine is an atypical neuroleptic with a preferential activity on the mesolimbic structures and a lower affinity for striatal D2 receptors than the classical antipsychotics. The purpose of this study was to assess the behavioral properties of clozapine, especially its effects on aggressive and motor behaviors. Individually housed male mice of the OF1 strain were exposed to anosmic "standard opponents" 30 minutes after the last drug administration. One category of animals received a single IP dose of the compound (0.2, 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mg/kg). Another category received daily doses (0.5, 1 or 1.5 mg/kg) for 21 days. Encounters were videotaped and behavior evaluated using an ethologically based analysis. Clozapine, in the acute treatment condition, produced a significant decrease in "attack" and "threat" behaviors without "immobility" being significantly increased. These results suggest a rather specific antiaggressive action of the compound with little motor impairment. In the chronic administration, no significant change in aggressive behavior was observed which may be attributed to the development of some degree of tolerance.

Sulpiride has an antiaggressive effect in mice without markedly depressing motor activity

The atypical neuroleptic, sulpiride is a selective D2 antagonist, having a preferential action on mesolimbic regions. The effects of acute and chronic treatment with sulpiride on aggressive behaviour in male mice were studied using an ethologically based analysis. It was hypothesized that sulpiride would diminish "threat" and "attack" but would not produce marked "immobility", because of the mesolimbic effect referred to above. Isolated albino male mice (experimental animals) were confronted by "standard opponents". Acutely-treated experimental animals received an intraperitoneal injection of sulpiride (20, 50 or 100 mg/kg) 30 min before testing. Chronically-treated animals received sulpiride (10, 20 or 50 mg/kg) once a day for 7 or 14 consecutive days. Acute treatment with sulpiride had an obvious antiaggressive effect, with significantly decreased time devoted to "attack" and "threat" behaviour. Although time spent in "immobility" was modestly increased, the time devoted to other motor behaviour was also increased. Chronic treatment for 1 or 2 weeks did not change any behavioural category, except "immobility". The antiaggressive action of acutely administered sulpiride is interpreted as a relatively specific dopaminergic antagonist effect and not as merely a non-specific correlate of its disruptive action on motor behaviour. The possible anxiolytic action of sulpiride is also discussed.