Evaluation of Antipsychotics
Our models for evaluating the antipsychotic potential of novel compounds include reversal of the increase in locomotor activity and/or stereotyped behaviour induced by amphetamine, apomorphine, PCP or MK-801 in mice. The ability of compounds to inhibit the locomotor activity and stereotyped behaviour induced by amphetamine (mediated by the release of dopamine in the limbic and striatal brain regions, respectively) can be assessed in the same animals. Side-effect profiling of novel antipsychotics includes determining whether the test substance induces catalepsy in rats or mice. We also have an animal model that can be used to detect neuroleptic-induced weight gain.
