Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (Feb 2003)

Dose-related effects of propericiazine in rats

  • E.M. Cechin,
  • J. Quevedo,
  • T. Barichello,
  • R. Machado-Vieira,
  • V. Gentil,
  • F. Kapczinski

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2003000200010
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 36, no. 2
pp. 227 – 231

Abstract

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We evaluated the effects of the neuroleptic agent propericiazine on animal models of anxiety and memory. Adult male Wistar rats (250 to 350 g) received intraperitoneal injections of propericiazine (0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg), saline, or diazepam vehicle (20% propylene glycol and 80% saline) 30 min prior to the experimental procedure. Animals (10-15 for each task) were tested for step-down inhibitory avoidance (0.3-mA footshock) and habituation to an open-field for memory assessment, and submitted to the elevated plus-maze to evaluate the effects of propericiazine in a model of anxiety. Animals treated with 0.075 mg/kg propericiazine showed a reduction in anxiety measures (P0.05) in the elevated plus-maze model of anxiety. Memory was not affected by propericiazine in any of the tests, but was impaired by diazepam. The results indicate a dose-related, inverse U-shaped effect of propericiazine in an anxiety model, but not on memory tasks, perhaps reflecting involvement of the dopaminergic system in the mechanisms of anxiety.

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