THE EFFECT OF ARIPIPRAZOLE ON PREPULSE INHIBITION OF THE STARTLE RESPONSE IN NORMAL AND HYPERDOPAMINERGIC STATES IN RATS

Abstract

This study compared the D₂ partial agonists, aripiprazole, (R(+)-terguride; S(−)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine [S(−)-3-PPP]; 7-{3-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperazinyl]propoxy}-2(1H)-quinolinone [OPC-4392]) and D₂ antagonists (haloperidol, olanzapine, clozapine, risperidone, and quetiapine) on prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response, and the ability to reverse apomorphine-induced deficits in the PPI response. Aripiprazole did not essentially affect PPI in naïve rats but dose-dependently restored apomorphine-induced PPI disruption. R(+)-terguride restored PPI disruption but suppressed PPI significantly in naïve rats, S(−)-3-PPP partially restored whereas OPC-4392 did not restore PPI disruption. Haloperidol and risperidone restored PPI disruption whereas olanzapine and quetiapine partially restored PPI disruption and clozapine had no restorative effect. In conclusion, aripiprazole, unlike other antipsychotic agents, failed to suppress PPI significantly and restored PPI disruption.

Keywords:

• antipsychotic
• aripiprazole
• dopamine D₂ receptor partial agonist
• prepulse inhibition
• schizophrenia
• startle response