Rotarod impairment: catalepsy-like screening test for antipsychotic side effects

Int J Neurosci. 2009;119(10):1509-22. doi: 10.1080/00207450902984002.

Abstract

Extrapyramidal motoric symptoms are casual side effects under antipsychotic medication. New generation antipsychotics are expected to have a reduced risk due to different receptor affinities. Here, haloperidol and the new generation antipsychotics, risperidone, amisulpride, and aripiprazole, were examined with both catalepsy test and rotarod performance test to screen for their usability in mice. Mice treated with haloperidol, risperidone, and aripiprazole showed dose and time-dependent impairment. Amisulpride-treated mice showed no signs of catalepsy. Catalepsy test and rotarod performance test were useful methods to detect side effects of both generation antipsychotics. Catalepsy test provided more specificity whereas the rotarod test provided higher degree of sensitivity to motor impairment including catalepsy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Basal Ganglia Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Basal Ganglia Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Rotarod Performance Test / methods*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents