Contextual and behavioral control of antipsychotic sensitization induced by haloperidol and olanzapine

Continuous oral olanzapine or clozapine treatment initiated in adolescence has differential short- and long-term impacts on antipsychotic sensitivity than those initiated in adulthood

One of the major discoveries in recent research on antipsychotic drugs is that antipsychotic treatment in adolescence could induce robust long-term alterations in antipsychotic sensitivity that persist into adulthood. These long-term impacts are likely influenced by various factors, including the "diseased" state of animals, sex, type of drugs, mode of drug administration, and age of treatment onset. In this study we compared the short- and long-term behavioral effects of 21-day continuous oral olanzapine (7.5 mg/kg/day) or clozapine (30.0 mg/kg/day) administration in heathy or maternal immune activated adolescent (33-53 days old) or adult (80-100 days old) rats of both sexes. We used a conditioned avoidance response model to assess the drug-induced alterations in antipsychotic sensitivity. Here, we report that while under the chronic drug treatment period, olanzapine progressively increased its suppression of avoidance responding over time, especially when treatment was initiated in adulthood. Clozapine's suppression depended on the age of drug exposure, with treatment initiated in adulthood showing a suppression while that initiated in adolescent did not. After a 17-day drug-free interval, in a drug challenge test, olanzapine treatment initiated in adolescence caused a decrease in drug sensitivity, as reflected by less avoidance suppression (a tolerance effect); whereas that initiated in adulthood appeared to cause an increase (more avoidance suppression, a sensitization effect). Clozapine treatments initiated in both adolescence and adulthood caused a similar tolerance effect. Our findings indicate that the same chronic antipsychotic treatment regimen initiated in adolescence or adulthood can have differential short- and long-term impacts on drug sensitivity.

Effects of chronic haloperidol treatment on the expression of fear memory and fear memory extinction in the cued fear-conditioned rats

AIM

Impairments in emotional memory are frequently observed in several mental disorders, highlighting their significance as potential therapeutic targets. Recent research on the cued fear conditioning model has elucidated the neural circuits involved in fear memory processing. However, contradictory findings have been reported concerning the role of dopamine and the impact of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) antagonists. There is notably limited knowledge regarding the clinical utility of chronic D2R antagonist treatments. This study aimed to uncover how such treatments affect fear memory processing.

METHODS

We utilized a cued fear conditioning rat model and conducted chronic haloperidol treatment for 14 days. Subsequently, to investigate the effect of chronic haloperidol treatment on fear-conditioned memory expression and extinction, we observed freezing behavior under exposure to a conditioned stimulus for 14 days.

RESULTS

Chronic haloperidol treatment suppressed freezing time on the fear memory expression. In contrast, a single haloperidol administration enhanced the freezing time on fear memory expression and delayed extinction.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that chronic administration of antipsychotic drugs affects fear memory processing differently from single-dose administration. This indicates that the effects of chronic D2R antagonist treatment are distinct from the nonspecific effects of the drugs. This study provides fundamental insights that may contribute to our understanding of therapeutic mechanisms for fear memory disorders related to D2R in the future.

Reinforcement attenuation as a behavioral technique to suppress conditioned avoidance response in rats: A comparative study with olanzapine

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic treatment is effective in the treatment of psychosis, although it also brings with it some unwanted side effects and is associated with low compliance. Finding a non-pharmacological alternative for antipsychotic treatment is highly desirable.

AIMS

This preclinical study examined the 'antipsychotic' efficacy of such a behavioral technique using a conditioned avoidance response model. This technique, termed reinforcement attenuation (RA), is to administer a brief footshock (0.1-2.0 s, 0.8 mA) at the end of each trial regardless of whether a well-trained rat makes an avoidance response or not.

RESULTS

RA achieved the same avoidance suppressing effect as olanzapine (an atypical antipsychotic drug), including both acute suppression and sensitized suppression of avoidance response in well-trained Sprague-Dawley adult male rats. Interestingly, the RA-induced sensitization (an enhanced disruption of avoidance responding) enhanced subsequent olanzapine sensitivity, whereas the olanzapine (1.0 mg/kg)-induced sensitization had little impact on later RA treatment. When RA and olanzapine (0.5 mg/kg, subcutaneously) were used together, the RA-induced sensitization was still detectable in the RA challenge test, although its magnitude was reduced by olanzapine. Finally, we showed that the RA-induced sensitization in avoidance suppression persisted from adolescence into adulthood, long after such a treatment was terminated.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that the RA is functionally equivalent (if not superior) to antipsychotic treatment in the avoidance suppression effect (both acute and sensitization effects) in both adolescent and adult animals. Behavioral therapies that specifically target the reinforcer of psychotic thoughts might be a viable strategy for the treatment of psychosis.

Time-dependent sensitization of antipsychotic effect in adolescent male and female rats

Many behavioral and biological effects of a psychoactive drug often undergo time-dependent change following even one single drug exposure. The present study examined whether one or two exposures of haloperidol, olanzapine or clozapine would also induce a time-dependent change in their behavioral effects in adolescent rats, and whether such a change vary between sexes. Adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats (<40days old) were first treated with one single injection of haloperidol (0.05 and 0.1mg/kg, sc), clozapine (10.0 and 20.0mg/kg, sc), 2 injections of olanzapine (1.0 and 2.0mg/kg, sc) or vehicle, and tested in a conditioned avoidance response (CAR) model or a PCP (3.20mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion model to assess the drug's antipsychotic-like behavioral effects. One or three weeks later, rats were challenged with the drug and their avoidance responses and the PCP-induced hyperlocomotion were re-assessed. One-trial haloperidol and 2-trial olanzapine induced a sensitization, while 1-trial clozapine induced a tolerance effect. The 1-trial haloperidol sensitization was significantly higher at the 3-week time point than at 1-week point, especially in the females. Clozapine tolerance in the conditioned avoidance response model also exhibited the time-dependent increase in both sex groups. Olanzapine sensitization in the PCP model showed a time-dependent change in a sex-dependent fashion. Overall, the time-dependent antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance can be demonstrated in adolescent animals. Many pharmacological (e.g. specific drugs, drug doses), individual (e.g. male versus female) and environmental (e.g. specific behavioral models) factors play a role in the modulation of the strength of antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance.

Sex differences in aripiprazole sensitization from adolescence to adulthood

The present study investigated the potential sex differences in repeated aripiprazole (ARI) treatment-induced behavioral sensitization from adolescence to adulthood, and to determine whether ARI sensitization can be transferred to olanzapine (OLZ) and/or clozapine (CLZ) using the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) and phencyclidine-induced (PCP) hyperlocomotion tests of antipsychotic activity. Male and female Sprague-Dawley adolescence rats (P46) were first treated with ARI (10mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days (P46-50) and tested for avoidance response and ARI-induced inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion. After they became adults (>P68), rats were challenged with ARI (1.5mg/kg, sc) (P70), OLZ (0.5mg/kg, sc; P73), CLZ (5mg/kg, sc; P76) and again with ARI (1.5mg/kg, sc; P84) and tested for avoidance response and ARI-induced inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion again. During the drug treatment period in adolescence, repeated ARI treatment suppressed avoidance response, inhibited the PCP-induced hyperlocomotion, and these effects were progressively increased across the 5-day period in both males and females, confirming the induction of ARI sensitization. On the challenge days, rats previously treated with ARI in adolescence also had significantly lower avoidance and lower PCP-induced hyperlocomotion than the previous vehicle rats, confirming the expression of ARI sensitization and its persistence into adulthood. More importantly, female rats made significantly more avoidances than males in both ARI and vehicle groups, indicating higher sensitivity to the acute and long-term effects of ARI. Further, on the OLZ and CLZ challenge days, prior ARI treatment seemed to increase sensitivity to OLZ exposure, however, this increase was not significant. Similarly, rats also showed an ARI sensitization to OLZ and CLZ on challenge days. Collectively, results from this experiment demonstrated a sex difference in response to ARI and enhanced inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion in animals that were pretreated with ARI as compared to controls.

A drug-drug conditioning paradigm reveals multiple antipsychotic-nicotine interactions

Clinical studies indicate a reciprocal impact between nicotine use and antipsychotic medications in patients with schizophrenia. The present study used a conditioned avoidance response (CAR) test (a behavioral test of antipsychotic effect) and examined the specific drug-drug interactions between nicotine and haloperidol or clozapine. Following acquisition of the avoidance response, rats were first tested under either vehicle, nicotine (0.2, 0.4 mg/kg, sc), haloperidol (0.025, 0.05 mg/kg, sc), clozapine (5.0, 10.0 mg/kg, sc), or a combination of nicotine and haloperidol or nicotine and clozapine for seven consecutive days. Afterward, they were challenged with nicotine (0.2 mg/kg), haloperidol (0.025 mg/kg), or clozapine (5.0 mg/kg) in the CAR to assess if haloperidol or clozapine affected the behavioral effect of nicotine on avoidance response and if nicotine altered the avoidance suppressive effect of haloperidol and clozapine. During the seven avoidance drug test days, nicotine did not alter the avoidance suppressive effect of haloperidol or clozapine. However, in the challenge test, prior nicotine treatment (0.2 mg/kg) attenuated haloperidol's (0.05 mg/kg) sensitized effect on avoidance response. On the other hand, prior haloperidol treatment increased nicotine's (0.2 mg/kg) avoidance disruptive effect, and even engendered nicotine 0.4 mg/kg to exhibit an "acquired" avoidance suppressive effect. The combined nicotine and clozapine treatment did not produce any detectable interactive effects on avoidance response and motor activity. These findings suggest that nicotine is capable of altering the long-term antipsychotic efficacy of haloperidol, while haloperidol can alter the behavioral effects of nicotine. Clozapine and nicotine are less likely to influence each other.

Sedative effect of Clozapine is a function of 5-HT2A and environmental novelty

Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, antipsychotics often exhibit sedation or activity suppression among many other side effects, and the factors that influence them remain poorly understood. We now show, using a 5-HT_2A knockout (Htr2a^-/-) mouse, that environmental circumstances can affect suppression of activity induced by the atypical antipsychotic- Clozapine. We observed that Htr2a^-/- mice were more resistant to Clozapine-induced suppression of activity (CISA) and this behaviour was dependent on the environment being 'novel'. In their 'home' environment, at identical doses the mice exhibited CISA. Interestingly, the effect of genotype and environmental novelty on CISA could not be extended to the other antipsychotics that were tested, i.e. Haloperidol and Risperidone. Haloperidol-induced activity suppression was independent of context and genotype. Whereas context affected Risperidone-induced activity suppression only in the Htr2a^+/+ mice. Furthermore, we observed that caffeine, a stimulant, elicited resistance to CISA similar to that seen in the 'novel' context. Our study establishes a previously unknown interaction between the environmental context, 5-HT_2A and CISA and emphasises the role of non-pharmacological factors such as environment on the effects of the drug, which seem antipsychotic-specific. Our findings should advance the understanding of the side effects of individual antipsychotics and the role of environment to overcome side effects such as sedation.

Antipsychotic-induced sensitization and tolerance: Behavioral characteristics, developmental impacts, and neurobiological mechanisms

Antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance refer to the increased and decreased drug effects due to past drug use, respectively. Both effects reflect the long-term impacts of antipsychotic treatment on the brain and result from the brain's adaptive response to the foreign property of the drug. In this review, clinical evidence of the behavioral aspect of antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance is selectively reviewed, followed by an overview of preclinical literature that examines these behavioral characteristics and the related pharmacological and nonpharmacological factors. Next, recent work on the developmental impacts of adolescent antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance is presented and recent research that delineates the neurobiological mechanisms of antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance is summarized. A theoretical framework based on "drug learning and memory" principles is proposed to account for the phenomena of antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance. It is maintained that antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance follow basic principles of learning or acquisition ("induction") and memory ("expression"). The induction and expression of both effects reflect the consequences of associative and nonassociative processing and are strongly influenced by various pharmacological, environmental, and behavioral factors. Drug-induced neuroplasticity, such as functional changes of striatal dopamine D2 and prefrontal serotonin (5-HT)2A receptors and their mediated signaling pathways, in principle, is responsible for antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance. Understanding the behavioral characteristics and neurobiological underpinnings of antipsychotic sensitization and tolerance has greatly enhanced our understanding of mechanisms of antipsychotic action, and may have important implications for future drug discovery and clinical practice.

Rethinking psychopharmacotherapy: The role of treatment context and brain plasticity in antidepressant and antipsychotic interventions

Emerging evidence indicates that treatment context profoundly affects psychopharmacological interventions. We review the evidence for the interaction between drug application and the context in which the drug is given both in human and animal research. We found evidence for this interaction in the placebo response in clinical trials, in our evolving knowledge of pharmacological and environmental effects on neural plasticity, and in animal studies analyzing environmental influences on psychotropic drug effects. Experimental placebo research has revealed neurobiological trajectories of mechanisms such as patients' treatment expectations and prior treatment experiences. Animal research confirmed that "enriched environments" support positive drug effects, while unfavorable environments (low sensory stimulation, low rates of social contacts) can even reverse the intended treatment outcome. Finally we provide recommendations for context conditions under which psychotropic drugs should be applied. Drug action should be steered by positive expectations, physical activity, and helpful social and physical environmental stimulation. Future drug trials should focus on fully controlling and optimizing such drug×environment interactions to improve trial sensitivity and treatment outcome.

Effects of repeated quetiapine treatment on conditioned avoidance responding in rats

The present study characterized the behavioral mechanisms of avoidance-disruptive effect of quetiapine in the conditioned avoidance response test under two behavioral testing (2 warning signals vs. 1 warning signal) and two drug administration conditions (subcutaneous vs. intravenous). In Experiments 1 and 2, well-trained adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested under the subcutaneous (s.c.) quetiapine treatment (5.0, 15.0, 25.0, 50.0mg/kg) for 7 days in a novel procedure consisting of two conditioned stimuli (CS) (white noise serving as CS1 and pure tone as CS2). Only the highest dose (50.0mg/kg) produced a persistent suppression of the avoidance response without impairing the escape response. The magnitude of suppression of the CS1 avoidance was similar to that of CS2 avoidance. No significant group difference was found in the quetiapine (15.0mg/kg, s.c.) challenge test, indicating a lack of a long-term quetiapine effect. In Experiment 3, well-trained rats were tested under the intravenous (i.v.) quetiapine treatment (3.0, 9.0, 15.0mg/kg) for 5 days and challenged with quetiapine (6.0mg/kg, i.v. followed by 9.0mg/kg, s.c.). Only the white noise was used as the CS. Similar to what was being observed in Experiments 1 and 2, intravenously administered quetiapine dose-dependently suppressed avoidance responding during the drug test days, but did not alter drug sensitivity in the challenge days. Thus, quetiapine does not appear to show a preferential inhibition of the avoidance response to a less salient stimulus; and prior quetiapine treatment (s.c. and i.v.) does not cause a sensitization or tolerance to quetiapine.

Adolescent olanzapine sensitization is correlated with hippocampal stem cell proliferation in a maternal immune activation rat model of schizophrenia

Previous work established that repeated olanzapine (OLZ) administration in normal adolescent rats induces a sensitization effect (i.e. increased behavioral responsiveness to drug re-exposure) in the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) model. However, it is unclear whether the same phenomenon can be detected in animal models of schizophrenia. The present study explored the generalizability of OLZ sensitization from healthy animals to a preclinical neuroinflammatory model of schizophrenia in the CAR. Maternal immune activation (MIA) was induced via polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) administration into pregnant dams. Behavioral assessments of offspring first identified decreased maternal separation-induced pup ultrasonic vocalizations and increased amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in animals prenatally exposed to PolyI:C. In addition, repeated adolescent OLZ administration confirmed the generalizability of the sensitization phenomenon. Using the CAR test, adolescent MIA animals displayed a similar increase in behavioral responsiveness after repeated OLZ exposure during both the repeated drug test days as well as a subsequent challenge test. Neurobiologically, few studies examining the relationship between hippocampal cell proliferation and survival and either antipsychotic exposure or MIA have incorporated concurrent behavioral changes. Thus, the current study also sought to reveal the correlation between OLZ behavioral sensitization in the CAR and hippocampal cell proliferation and survival. 5'-bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry identified a positive correlation between the magnitude of OLZ sensitization (i.e. change in avoidance suppression induced by OLZ across days) and hippocampal cell proliferation. The implications of the relationship between behavioral and neurobiological results are discussed.

Effects of central activation of serotonin 5-HT2A/2C or dopamine D 2/3 receptors on the acute and repeated effects of clozapine in the conditioned avoidance response test

RATIONALE

Acute administration of clozapine (a gold standard of atypical antipsychotics) disrupts avoidance response in rodents, while repeated administration often causes a tolerance effect.

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the neuroanatomical basis and receptor mechanisms of acute and repeated effects of clozapine treatment in the conditioned avoidance response test in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODS

2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodo-amphetamine (DOI, a preferential 5-HT2A/2C agonist) or quinpirole (a preferential dopamine D2/3 agonist) was microinjected into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) or nucleus accumbens shell (NAs), and their effects on the acute and long-term avoidance disruptive effect of clozapine were tested.

RESULTS

Intra-mPFC microinjection of quinpirole enhanced the acute avoidance disruptive effect of clozapine (10 mg/kg, sc), while DOI microinjections reduced it marginally. Repeated administration of clozapine (10 mg/kg, sc) daily for 5 days caused a progressive decrease in its inhibition of avoidance responding, indicating tolerance development. Intra-mPFC microinjection of DOI at 25.0 (but not 5.0) μg/side during this period completely abolished the expression of clozapine tolerance. This was indicated by the finding that clozapine-treated rats centrally infused with 25.0 μg/side DOI did not show higher levels of avoidance responses than the vehicle-treated rats in the clozapine challenge test. Microinjection of DOI into the mPFC immediately before the challenge test also decreased the expression of clozapine tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute behavioral effect of clozapine can be enhanced by activation of the D2/3 receptors in the mPFC. Clozapine tolerance expression relies on the neuroplasticity initiated by its antagonist action against 5-HT2A/2C receptors in the mPFC.

Repeated administration of aripiprazole produces a sensitization effect in the suppression of avoidance responding and phencyclidine-induced hyperlocomotion and increases D2 receptor-mediated behavioral function

The present study investigated how repeated administration of aripiprazole (a novel antipsychotic drug) alters its behavioral effects in two behavioral tests of antipsychotic activity and whether this alteration is correlated with an increase in dopamine D2 receptor function. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were first repeatedly tested with aripiprazole (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, subcutaneously (sc)) or vehicle in a conditioned avoidance response (CAR) test or a phencyclidine (PCP) (3.20 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion test daily for five consecutive days. After 2-3 days of drug-free retraining or resting, all rats were then challenged with aripiprazole (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg, sc). Repeated administration of aripiprazole progressively increased its inhibition of avoidance responding and PCP-induced hyperlocomotion. More importantly, rats previously treated with aripiprazole showed significantly lower avoidance response and lower PCP-induced hyperlocomotion than those previously treated with vehicle in the challenge tests. An increased sensitivity to quinpirole (a selective D2/3 agonist) in prior aripiprazole-treated rats was also found in the quinpirole-induced hyperlocomotion test, suggesting an enhanced D2/3-mediated function. These findings suggest that aripiprazole, despite its distinct receptor mechanisms of action, induces a sensitization effect similar to those induced by other antipsychotic drugs and this effect may be partially mediated by brain plasticity involving D2/3 receptor systems.

Effect of environmental cues on the behavioral efficacy of haloperidol, olanzapine, and clozapine in rats

Previous studies have reported that context can powerfully modulate the inhibitory effect of an antipsychotic drug on phencyclidine (PCP)-induced hyperlocomotion (a behavioral test used to evaluate putative antipsychotic drugs). The present study investigated the experimental conditions under which environmental stimuli exert their influence through associative conditioning processes. Experiment 1 examined the extent to which previous antipsychotic treatment in the home cages affected a drug's ability to inhibit PCP-induced hyperlocomotion in novel motor activity test apparatus. Five days of repeated haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg, subcutaneously) and olanzapine (2.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously) treatment in the home cages still potentiated their inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion (i.e. sensitization) assessed in a new environment, whereas the clozapine (10.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously) treatment enhanced the development of clozapine tolerance, indicating a lack of environmental modulation of antipsychotic efficacy. Experiment 2 assessed the impact of different numbers of antipsychotic administrations (e.g. 4, 2 or 0), in either the home environment or test environment, on a drug's ability to inhibit PCP-induced hyperlocomotion. Repeated administration of clozapine (5.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or olanzapine (1.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously) for 4 consecutive days, irrespective of where these treatments occurred, led to a similar level of inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion. However, 4-day haloperidol (0.03 mg/kg, subcutaneously) treatment in the test apparatus led to significantly higher inhibition than a 4-day home-cage treatment. Thus, more exposures to the test environment under the influence of haloperidol (but not clozapine or olanzapine) caused a stronger inhibition than fewer exposures, indicating a strong environmental modulation. Collectively, these findings suggest that previous antipsychotic treatment in one environment could alter later antipsychotic-like response assessed in a different environment under certain test conditions. Therefore, whether the circumstances surrounding antipsychotic drug administration have a powerful effect on the expression of antipsychotic-like efficacy is dependent on specific experimental and drug treatment factors.

Repeated effects of the neurotensin receptor agonist PD149163 in three animal tests of antipsychotic activity: assessing for tolerance and cross-tolerance to clozapine

Neurotensin is an endogenous neuropeptide closely associated with the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and shown to possess antipsychotic-like effects. In particular, acute neurotensin receptor activation can inhibit conditioned avoidance response (CAR), attenuate phencyclidine (PCP)-induced prepulse inhibition (PPI) disruptions, and reverse PCP-induced hyperlocomotion. However, few studies have examined the long term effects of repeated neurotensin receptor activation and results are inconsistent. Since clinical administration of antipsychotic therapy often requires a prolonged treatment schedule, here we assessed the effects of repeated activation of neurotensin receptors using an NTS1 receptor selective agonist, PD149163, in 3 behavioral tests of antipsychotic activity. We also investigated whether reactivity to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine was altered following prior PD149163 treatment. Using both normal and prenatally immune activated rats generated through maternal immune activation with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, we tested PD149163 in CAR, PCP (1.5mg/kg)-induced PPI disruption, and PCP (3.2mg/kg)-induced hyperlocomotion. For each paradigm, rats were first repeatedly tested with vehicle or PD149163 (1.0, 4.0, 8.0mg/kg, sc) along with vehicle or PCP for PPI and hyperlocomotion tests, then challenged with PD149163 after 2 drug-free days. All rats were then challenged with clozapine (5.0mg/kg, sc). During the repeated test period, PD149163 exhibited antipsychotic-like effects in all three models. On the PD149163 challenge day, prior drug treatment only caused a tolerance effect in CAR. This tolerance in CAR was transferrable to clozapine, as it enhanced clozapine tolerance in the same group of animals. Although no tolerance effect was seen in the PD149163 challenge for the PCP-induced hyperlocomotion test, the clozapine challenge showed increased sensitivity in groups previously exposed to repeated PD149163 treatment. Our findings suggest that repeated exposure to NTS1 receptor agonists can induce a dose-dependent tolerance and cross-tolerance to clozapine to some of its behavioral effects but not others.

Glutamate receptor 1 phosphorylation at serine 845 contributes to the therapeutic effect of olanzapine on schizophrenia-like cognitive impairments

Schizophrenia patients exhibit a wide range of impairments in cognitive functions. Clinically, atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPs) such as olanzapine (OLZ) have a therapeutic effect on memory function among schizophrenia patients rather than typical antipsychotics, e.g., haloperidol. To date, however, little is known about the neuroplasticity mechanism underlying the effect of AAPs on the impairment of cognitive functions. Here, we treated schizophrenia rat models with a systematic injection of MK-801 (0.1mg/kg) and chose the drug OLZ as a tool to investigate the mechanisms of AAPs when used to alter cognitive function. The results showed that the systematic administration of MK-801 results in the impairment of spatial learning and memory as well as spatial working memory in a Morris water maze task. OLZ but not HAL improved these MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunctions. After MK-801 application, the hippocampal LTP was profoundly impaired. In conjunction with the results of the behavioral test, the administration of OLZ but not of HAL resulted in a significant reversal effect on the impaired LTP induced via MK-801 application. Furthermore, we found that OLZ but not HAL can upregulate the phosphorylation of GluR1 Ser845. These data suggest that the therapeutic effect of OLZ on cognitive dysfunctions may be due to its contribution to synaptic plasticity via the ability to upregulate the state of GluR1 Ser845 phosphorylation. We therefore suggest that the upregulated state of GluR1 Ser845 phosphorylation may be a promising target for developing novel therapeutics for treating schizophrenia.

Differential effects of intermittent versus continuous haloperidol treatment throughout adolescence on haloperidol sensitization and social behavior in adulthood

Animal work on the behavioral effects of antipsychotic treatment suggests that different dosing regimens could affect drug sensitivity differently, with an intermittent treatment regimen tending to cause a sensitization effect, while a continuous treatment causing a tolerance. In this study, we explored how haloperidol (HAL) sensitization induced throughout adolescence and tested in adulthood was differentially impacted by these two dosing regimens in the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) test. We also examined how these two dosing regiments affected social interaction and social memory in adulthood. Male adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with HAL via either osmotic minipump (HAL-0.25 CONT; 0.25 mgkg(-1)day(-1), n = 14) or daily injection (HAL-0.05 INT; 0.05 mgkg(-1)day(-1) injection, sc, n = 14), or sterile water (n = 14) from postnatal days (PND) 44 to 71. HAL sensitization was assessed in a challenge test in which all rats were injected with HAL (0.025 and 0.05 mg/kg, sc) on PND 80 and PND 82. Two days later, half of the rats from each group (n = 7/group) were assayed in two 4-trial social interaction tests in which a subject rat was given four 5-min social encounters with a familiar or novel juvenile rat (PND 35-40) at 10 min intervals. Another half were tested in a quinpirole-induced hyperlocomotion assay to assess the potential HAL-induced change in D2-mediated function. Results show that only the intermittent dosing group under the HAL 0.05 mg/kg challenge showed a robust sensitization effect as rats in this group made significantly fewer avoidance responses than those in the vehicle and HAL-0.25 CONT groups. Adolescent HAL treatment did not affect social behavior and social memory, as rats from all 3 groups exhibited a similar level of social interaction and showed a similar level of sensitivity to the change of social stimuli. Similarly, adolescent HAL treatment also did not produce a long-lasting change in D2 function, as all 3 groups exhibited a similar level of increase in motor activity under quinpirole challenge. These findings suggest that HAL sensitization is a dosing-specific phenomenon. It is more likely to be seen under an intermittent dosing regimen than under a continuous dosing one. The findings that the intermittent HAL treatment did not impair social functioning and did not alter D2 function suggest a dissociation between drug-induced alterations in drug sensitivity and those in social function and neuroreceptors.

Asenapine sensitization from adolescence to adulthood and its potential molecular basis

Asenapine is a new antipsychotic drug that induces a long-lasting behavioral sensitization in adult rats. The present study investigated the developmental impacts of adolescent asenapine treatment on drug sensitivity and on 3 proteins implicated in the action of antipsychotic drugs (i.e. brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dopamine D2 receptor, and ΔFosB) in adulthood. Male adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats (postnatal days, P 43-48) were first treated with asenapine (0.05, 0.10 or 0.20mg/kg, sc) and tested in the conditioned avoidance or PCP (2.0mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion tasks for 5 days. After they became adults (∼P 76), asenapine sensitization was assessed in a single avoidance or PCP-induced hyperlocomotion challenge test with all rats being injected with asenapine (0.10mg/kg, sc). Rats were then sacrificed 1 day later and BDNF, D2 and ΔFosB in the prefrontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus were examined using Western blotting. In adolescence, repeated asenapine treatment produced a persistent and dose-dependent inhibition of avoidance response, spontaneous motor activity and PCP-induced hyperlocomotion. In the asenapine challenge test, adult rats treated with asenapine (0.10 and 0.20mg/kg) in adolescence made significantly fewer avoidance responses and showed a stronger inhibition of spontaneous motor activity than those previously treated with saline. However, no group difference in the levels of BDNF, D2 and ΔFosB expression was found. These findings suggest that although adolescent asenapine treatment for a short period of time induces a robust behavioral sensitization that persists into adulthood, such a long-term effect is not likely to be mediated by BDNF, D2 and ΔFosB.

Long-lasting sensitization induced by repeated risperidone treatment in adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats: a possible D2 receptor mediated phenomenon?

RATIONALE

Risperidone use in children and adolescents for the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, autism, disruptive behavior, etc.) has increased substantially in recent decades. However, its long-term effect on the brain and behavioral functions is not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated how a short-term risperidone treatment in adolescence impacts antipsychotic response in adulthood in the conditioned avoidance response and phencyclidine (PCP)-induced hyperlocomotion tests.

METHODS

Male adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats (postnatal days [P] 40-44 or 43-48) were first treated with risperidone (0.3, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously (sc)) and tested in the conditioned avoidance or PCP (3.2 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion model daily for five consecutive days. After they became adults (~P 76-80), they were challenged with risperidone (0.3 mg/kg, sc) to assess their sensitivity to risperidone reexposure. A quinpirole (a D2/3 receptor agonist, 1.0 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion test was later conducted to assess the risperidone-induced functional changes in D2 receptor.

RESULTS

In the risperidone challenge test in adulthood, adult rats previously treated with risperidone in adolescence made significantly fewer avoidance responses and exhibited significantly lower PCP-induced hyperlocomotion than those previously treated with vehicle. They also appeared to be more hyperactive than the vehicle-pretreated ones in the quinpirole-induced hyperlocomotion test. Prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle or fear-induced 22 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in adulthood was not altered by adolescence risperidone treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent risperidone exposure induces a long-term increase in behavioral sensitivity to risperidone that persists into adulthood. This long-lasting change might be due to functional upregulation of D2-mediated neurotransmission.

Adult response to olanzapine or clozapine treatment is altered by adolescent antipsychotic exposure: a preclinical test in the phencyclidine hyperlocomotion model

This study examined how repeated olanzapine (OLZ) or clozapine (CLZ) treatment in adolescence alters sensitivity to the same drug in adulthood in the phencyclidine (PCP) hyperlocomotion model. Male adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats (postnatal day (P) 44-48) were first treated with OLZ (1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously (sc)) or CLZ (10.0 or 20.0 mg/kg, sc) and tested in the PCP (3.2 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion model for five consecutive days. Then a challenge test with OLZ (0.5 mg/kg) or CLZ (5.0 mg/kg) was administered either during adolescence (~P 51) or after the rats matured into adults (~P 76 and 91). During adolescence, repeated OLZ or CLZ treatment produced a persistent inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion across the five test days. In the challenge test during adolescence, rats previously treated with OLZ did not show a significantly stronger inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion than those previously treated with vehicle (VEH). In contrast, those previously treated with CLZ showed a weaker inhibition than the VEH controls. When assessed in adulthood, the enhanced sensitivity to OLZ and the decreased sensitivity to CLZ were detected on ~P 76, even on ~P 91 in the case of OLZ. These findings suggest that adolescent OLZ or CLZ exposure can induce long-term alterations in antipsychotic response that persist into adulthood.

Long-term impacts of adolescent risperidone treatment on behavioral responsiveness to olanzapine and clozapine in adulthood

This preclinical study investigated how a short-term risperidone treatment in adolescence impacts antipsychotic response to olanzapine and clozapine in adulthood. Antipsychotic effect was indexed by a drug's suppressive effect on avoidance responding in a rat conditioned avoidance response (CAR) model. Male adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats were first treated with risperidone (1.0mg/kg, sc) or sterile water and tested in the CAR model for 5 consecutive days from postnatal days P 40 to 44. After they became adults (~P 80-84), they were switched to olanzapine (0.5mg/kg, sc), clozapine (5.0mg/kg, sc) or vehicle treatment and tested for avoidance for 5days. During the adolescent period, repeated risperidone treatment produced a persistent inhibition of avoidance response. Throughout the 5days of adulthood drug testing, rats previously treated with risperidone in adolescence made significantly fewer avoidance responses than the vehicle ones when they all were switched to olanzapine, indicating a risperidone-induced enhancement of behavioral sensitivity to olanzapine. In contrast, when switched to clozapine, rats previously treated with risperidone made significantly more avoidance responses than the vehicle rats, indicating a risperidone-induced decrease of behavioral sensitivity to clozapine. Performance in the prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle response in adulthood was not altered by adolescent risperidone treatment. Collectively, adolescent risperidone exposure induced a long-term change in behavioral sensitivity to other atypical antipsychotic drugs, with the specific direction of change (i.e., increase or decrease) dependent on the drug to be switched to. These long-lasting changes are likely mediated by drug-induced neuroplastic changes and may also have significant clinical implications for antipsychotic treatment of chronic patients with an early onset of psychotic symptoms.

Time-dependence of risperidone and asenapine sensitization and associated D2 receptor mechanism

When an antipsychotic drug is given repeatedly and intermittently, there is often a long-term increase in its behavioral efficacy, termed antipsychotic sensitization. With the passage of time, the magnitude of antipsychotic sensitization may increase or decrease based on the principle of time-dependent sensitization (TDS) or memory decay, respectively. In the present study, we examined the time-dependent feature and possible dopamine D2 receptor mechanism of sensitization induced by risperidone and asenapine in the conditioned avoidance response test. Well-trained male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were first repeatedly treated with risperidone (1.0mg/kg) or asenapine (0.2mg/kg) and tested for avoidance response daily for 5 consecutive days. Eight, 18 or 38 days after the 5th drug treatment, all rats were retested drug-free to assess the long-term impact of prior risperidone or asenapine treatment. Drug-pretreated rats had significantly lower avoidance than vehicle-pretreated ones on this test, and the group differences increased with the passage of time. In the subsequent drug challenge test at 10, 20 or 40 days after the 5th drug treatment, all rats were injected with a low dose of risperidone (0.3mg/kg) or asenapine (0.1mg/kg). Drug-pretreated rats again made significantly fewer avoidances than controls, confirming the antipsychotic sensitization effect. Finally, in the quinpirole (a D2/3 receptor agonist, 1.0mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion test, risperidone-pretreated rats exhibited a significantly higher level of motor activity than the vehicle-pretreated ones. These findings suggest that risperidone and asenapine sensitization is long-lasting, follows the TDS principle, and is likely mediated by D2 receptor supersensitivity.

Repeated asenapine treatment produces a sensitization effect in two preclinical tests of antipsychotic activity

Among several commonly used atypical antipsychotic drugs, olanzapine and risperidone cause a sensitization effect in the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) and phencyclidine (PCP)-induced hyperlocomotion paradigms--two well established animal tests of antipsychotic drugs, whereas clozapine causes a tolerance effect. Asenapine is a novel antipsychotic drug recently approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and manic disorders. It shares several receptor binding sites and behavioral features with other atypical antipsychotic drugs. However, it is not clear what type of repeated effect (sensitization or tolerance) asenapine would induce, and whether such an effect is transferrable to other atypicals. In this study, male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were first repeatedly tested with asenapine (0.05, 0.10 or 0.20 mg/kg, sc) for avoidance response or PCP (3.20 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion daily for 5 consecutive days. After 2-3 days of retraining/drug-free recovery, they were then challenged with asenapine (0.10 mg/kg, sc), followed by olanzapine (0.50 mg/kg, sc) and clozapine (2.50 mg/kg, sc). During the 5-day drug test period (the induction phase), repeated asenapine treatment progressively increased its inhibition of avoidance response and PCP-induced hyperlocomotion in a dose-dependent fashion. On the asenapine and olanzapine challenge tests (the expression phase), rats previously treated with asenapine still showed significantly lower avoidance response and lower PCP-induced hyperlocomotion than those previously treated with vehicle. An increased reactivity to clozapine challenge in prior asenapine-treated rats was also found in the PCP-induced hyperlocomotion test. These findings suggest that asenapine is capable of inducing a sensitization effect and a cross-sensitization to olanzapine and clozapine (to a lesser extent). Because the behavioral profile of asenapine in both tests is similar to that of olanzapine, but different from that of clozapine, we suggest that asenapine resembles olanzapine to a greater extent than clozapine in its therapeutic and side effect profiles.

An automatic recording system for the study of escape from fear in rats

Escape from fear (EFF) is an active response to a conditioned stimulus (CS) previously paired with an unconditioned fearful stimulus (US), which typically leads to the termination of the CS. In this paradigm, animals acquire two distinct associations: S-S [CS-US] and R-O [response-outcome] through Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, respectively. The present study describes a computer controlled automatic recording system that captures the development of EFF and allows the determination of the respective roles of S-S and R-O associations in this process. We validated this system by showing that only rats subjected to a simultaneous CS-US conditioning (i.e., CS and US occur together at the beginning of each trial) acquired EFF, not those subjected to an unpaired CS-US conditioning. Paired rats had a progressively increased number of EFF and significantly shorter escape latencies than unpaired rats across the 5-trial blocks on the test day. However, during the conditioning phase, the unpaired rats emitted more 22kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, a validated measure of conditioned reactive fear responses. Our results demonstrate that the acquisition of EFF is contingent upon pairing of the CS with the US, not simply the consequence of a high level of generalized fear. Because this commercially available system is capable of examining both conditioned active and reactive fear responses in a single setup, it could be used to determine the relative roles of S-S and R-O associations in EFF, the neurobiology of conditioned active fear response and neuropharmacology of psychotherapeutic drugs.

Olanzapine sensitization and clozapine tolerance: from adolescence to adulthood in the conditioned avoidance response model

Disruption of conditioned avoidance response (CAR) in rodents is one trademark feature of many antipsychotic drugs. In adult rats, repeated olanzapine (OLZ) treatment causes an enhanced disruption of avoidance response (sensitization), whereas repeated clozapine (CLZ) treatment causes a decreased disruption (tolerance). The present study addressed (1) whether OLZ sensitization and CLZ tolerance can be induced in adolescent rats, and (2) the extent to which OLZ sensitization and CLZ tolerance induced in adolescence persists into adulthood. Male adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats (approximate postnatal days (∼P) 43-47) were first treated with OLZ (1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously (sc)) or CLZ (10 or 20 mg/kg, sc) daily for 5 consecutive days in the CAR model. They were then tested for the expression of OLZ sensitization or CLZ tolerance either in adolescence (∼P 50) or after they matured into adults (∼P 76 and 92) in a challenge test during which all rats were injected with either a lower dose of OLZ (0.5 mg/kg) or CLZ (5.0 mg/kg). When tested in adolescence, rats previously treated with OLZ showed a stronger inhibition of CAR than those previously treated with vehicle (ie, sensitization). In contrast, rats previously treated with CLZ showed a weaker inhibition of CAR than those previously treated with vehicle (ie, tolerance). When tested in adulthood, the OLZ sensitization was still detectable at both time points (∼P 76 and 92), whereas the CLZ tolerance was only detectable on ∼P 76, and only manifested in the intertrial crossing. Performance in the prepulse inhibition and fear-induced 22 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in adulthood were not altered by adolescence drug treatment. Collectively, these findings suggest that atypical antipsychotic treatment during adolescence can induce a long-term specific alteration in antipsychotic effect that persists into adulthood despite the brain maturation. As antipsychotic drugs are being increasingly used in children and adolescents in the past two decades, findings from this study are important for understanding the impacts of adolescent antipsychotic treatment on the brain and behavioral developments. This work also has implications for clinical practice involving adolescence antipsychotic treatments in terms of drug choice, drug dose, and schedule.

Drug-drug conditioning between citalopram and haloperidol or olanzapine in a conditioned avoidance response model: implications for polypharmacy in schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia often have anxiety and depression, and thus are treated with multiple psychotherapeutic medications. This practice of polypharmacy increases the possibility for drug-drug interactions. However, the pharmacological and behavioral mechanisms underlying drug-drug interactions in schizophrenia remain poorly understood. In the present study, we adopted a preclinical approach and examined a less known behavioral mechanism, drug-drug conditioning (DDC) between haloperidol (a typical antipsychotic) or olanzapine (atypical antipsychotic) and citalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). A rat two-way conditioned avoidance response paradigm was used to measure antipsychotic activity and determine how DDC may alter the antipsychotic efficacy in this model. Following acquisition of the avoidance response, rats were then randomly assigned to receive vehicle, citalopram (10.0 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg, subcutaneously), olanzapine (1.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously), combined haloperidol with citalopram, or combined olanzapine with citalopram treatment for seven avoidance test sessions. In comparison with antipsychotic treatment alone, combined treatment with citalopram potentiated the antiavoidance effect of olanzapine or haloperidol (to a lesser extent) during the seven drug-test sessions. In addition, repeated pairing of citalopram with haloperidol or olanzapine caused citalopram to show a newly acquired avoidance-disruptive effect. This effect was context specific because citalopram paired with haloperidol or olanzapine outside the avoidance testing context (i.e. home cages) did not show such an effect. These findings indicate that concurrent antidepressant and antipsychotic treatments may engender a DDC process that follows the general Pavlovian associative conditioning principles. They also indicate that adjunctive citalopram treatment may enhance the antipsychotic efficacy of haloperidol and olanzapine in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Parametric studies of antipsychotic-induced sensitization in the conditioned avoidance response model: roles of number of drug exposure, drug dose, and test-retest interval

Repeated haloperidol and olanzapine treatment produces an enhanced disruption of avoidance responding, a validated measure of antipsychotic activity. Experimental parameters affecting this sensitization-like effect have not been thoroughly examined. The present study investigated the role of three parameters (number of injections, dose, and interval between initial exposure and challenge) in antipsychotic sensitization in the conditioned avoidance response paradigm. Well-trained Sprague-Dawley rats received different numbers of drug treatment (1-5 days) or different doses of haloperidol (0.025-0.10 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or olanzapine (0.5-2.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously). After certain time intervals (4, 10 or 17 days), they were tested for the expression of haloperidol or olanzapine sensitization in a challenge test in which all rats were injected with a lower dose of haloperidol (0.025 mg/kg) or olanzapine (0.5 mg/kg). Throughout the drug-treatment period, both haloperidol and olanzapine dose-dependently enhanced their disruption of avoidance responding. Three days later, the sensitization induced by a low dose of haloperidol (0.025 mg/kg) or olanzapine (0.5 mg/kg) was only apparent in rats that received treatment for 5 days, but not in those that received treatment for 1-4 days. The sensitization induced by the medium and high doses of haloperidol (0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg) or olanzapine (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) was still robust even with only 3 days of treatment. The sensitization induced by a 3-day haloperidol (0.10 mg/kg) and olanzapine (2.0 mg/kg) treatment was long-lasting, still detectable 17 days after the last drug treatment. This study suggests that antipsychotic sensitization is a robust behavioral phenomenon. Its induction and expression are strongly influenced by parameters such as number of drug exposures, drug dose, and test-retest interval. Given the importance of antipsychotic sensitization in the maintenance of antipsychotic effects in the clinic, this study introduces a paradigm that can be used to investigate the behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms underlying antipsychotic sensitization.

Environmental and behavioral controls of the expression of clozapine tolerance: evidence from a novel across-model transfer paradigm

Repeated administration of antipsychotic drugs induces a sensitization-like or tolerance-like effect in many behavioral tasks, including the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) and the phencyclidine (PCP)-induced hyperlocomotion, two rodent models with high predictive validity for antipsychotic activity. This study investigated the impacts of contextual and behavioral variables on the expression of clozapine tolerance using a recently validated across-model transfer paradigm (Zhang and Li, 2012 [1]). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were first repeatedly treated with clozapine (2.5-10.0 mg/kg, sc) in the CAR model or PCP (1.6 mg/kg, sc)-induced hyperlocomotion model for five consecutive days. They were then tested for the expression of clozapine tolerance in another model for another 5 days. Finally, all rats were switched back to the original model and tested again for the expression of clozapine tolerance. When tested in the PCP model, rats previously treated with clozapine in the CAR model did not show an immediate weaker inhibition of PCP-induced hyperlocomotion than those treated with clozapine for the first time, but showed a significantly weaker inhibition over time. In contrast, when tested in the CAR model, rats previously treated with clozapine in the PCP model showed an immediate weaker disruption of avoidance response than those treated with clozapine for the first time, but this weaker effect diminished over time. These results suggest that the expression of clozapine tolerance is strongly modulated by the test environment and/or selected behavioral response. Clozapine tolerance and its situational specificity may be related to the drug's low extrapyramidal motor side effect, its superior therapeutic efficacy and/or emergence of clozapine withdrawal syndrome.

Avoidance disruptive effect of clozapine and olanzapine is potentiated by increasing the test trials: further test of the motivational salience hypothesis

Antipsychotic drugs suppress animals' ability to avoid an aversive stimulus in the conditioned avoidance response model (CAR). This behavioral effect is thought to reflect antipsychotic activity and is suggested to be mediated by a drug's action in attenuating the motivational salience of a conditioned stimulus (CS). In the present study, we tested whether atypical antipsychotic drugs clozapine and olanzapine act through this behavioral mechanism by manipulating the number of avoidance test trials. We reasoned that more CS trials in the presence of clozapine or olanzapine would afford the drug more opportunities to decrease the motivational salience of the CS, thus avoidance decline would be greater with the increase of CS trials in each test session. In two separate experiments, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested under clozapine (5.0mg/kg, sc), olanzapine (0.5mg/kg, sc) or vehicle (sterile water) for 6 consecutive days in three CS trial conditions (i.e. 3, 10, and 40 CS trials per session). Two days later, all rats were tested under the same 40-trial session after receiving clozapine (5.0mg/kg, sc) or olanzapine (0.5mg/kg, sc). Results show that repeated clozapine and olanzapine treatment persistently decreased avoidance response, and this effect was potentiated by the increase of number of CS trials in the test sessions, as the clozapine-treated or olanzapine-treated rats tested under the 40-trial or 10-trial condition had significantly lower avoidance and faster decline across-sessions than those tested under the 3-trial condition. This potentiated effect was not only seen in the total avoidance percentage, but also observed in the within-session decline pattern in the last three drug test sessions and in the final 40-trial test session. These findings suggest that the clinical efficacy of a drug can be enhanced by increasing the exposure of symptoms in the presence of the drug.